Ghana-Nigeria: A Quest for Bilateral Economic Opportunities

Ghana and Nigeria are two of the biggest Anglophone speaking nations and economies within the ECOWAS sub-region, both share a lot of social, cultural and historical ties. Hilary Damissah, looks at how the neighbouring countries can further explore tourism and culture to foster social inclusion, integration and economic development.

The historical ties between Ghana and Nigeria, two of the biggest Anglophone speaking nations and economies within the ECOWAS block, dates back hundreds of years. Both countries share much in common pointing back to the colonial era and as a result of their regional closeness, there is a significant cultural relationship including political structures, music especially hip-life or highlife, food most popular of which is jollof rice as well as linguistic similitude.
Decades after independence and by the turn of the millennium, a new vista of cultural and tourism collaboration was berth in 2011, christened; Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture Showcase (GhaNigTcus). Famed as the biggest Private Public Partnership platform between both countries through which arts, tourism and culture is used to promote understanding, integration and economic development between the ECOWAS States thereby fostering sub-regional integration and economic development. The event parades the very best of indigenous Afro-centric music, dance, indigenous cuisines, African fashion, traditional hairstyle, tourism and the restoration and sustenance of the peoples’ cultural heritage.

The Project Coordinator, Hilary Damissah, through vision, passion and commitment galvanized key stakeholders beginning with the maiden edition in 2011. Driving the vision was characterized by many coincidences which began from an earlier official business visit to Ghana in 2010 along with his boss Dr Bayero Agabi when the idea was nurtured. Earlier in 2010, at an exhibition at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, Hilary met renowned Ghanaian artist and Prof. Ablade Glover who occupies a major position in Ghana’s contemporary art scene, as Founder and Director of the internationally acclaimed and arguably the biggest privately owned arts gallery in West Africa, Artists Alliance Gallery Labadi, Accra, Ghana. That relationship later evolved and subsequently the gallery hosted the first edition of the Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture Showcase 2011. Prominent Highlife maestro Sunny Nneji featured at the event. Nigeria’s flag was flown by a huge delegation of Niger State Council of Arts and Culture, Osun State, Benue State and various Regional arts troupes from Ghana, musical performances, lectures and awards as the Ghana Tourism Authority endorsed the event with full participation. Pan-Africa Ghana under the leadership of Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi was another key partner as it galvanized the Musical Society of Ghana (MUSIGHANA) and other stakeholders to participate.

The Nigerian High Commission in Ghana under the then leadership of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro also gave backing to the event. Other strategic partners included; Centre for Black and African Arts Civilization, (CBAAC), Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, National Council for Arts and Culture, Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and National Orientation, Airport West Hotel, Accra among others.

The question is why the motivation for this marriage under the auspices of the Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture Showcase. As two of the biggest economies in the West African sub-region, in 2024, tourism revenue for Nigeria and Ghana is projected to be: Nigeria- $3.31 billion in revenue, with an annual growth rate of 11.23%. By 2029, the market volume is expected to reach $ 5.64 billion. While for Ghana $ 1.62 billion in revenue, with an average annual growth rate of 1.5%. In 2022, the United States was the top country of origin for tourists visiting Ghana, accounting for almost 13% of arrivals. Nigeria and Britain followed, with 8% and 5.2% of the inbound tourism share, respectively. 

With the huge market potentials offered by Ghana and Nigeria from an exciting mix of culture, eco-tourism, cultural heritage, natural resources including beaches as well as the warm and friendly people of both countries, it is only imperative that a greater synergy between both nations is fostered.

Significantly and with a very strategic approach, Ghana and Nigeria have been two of Africa’s strongest voices actively promoting the historical linkage with the black diaspora. Ghana actively promotes tourism through initiatives like the “Year of Return,” attracting African diaspora visitors to explore their ancestral roots. 
Interestingly, Hilary Damissah with his years of experience as News Editor Infotech Network 2011 to 2015 and subsequently as Chief Operating Officer/Editor, DigiVation Network and based on the antecedents of the success of the maiden edition of Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture Showcase, 2011 and that of 2013, he again got the nod to serve as Project Coordinator for Nigeria’s participation actively as part of “Year of the Return” 2019 in Accra, Ghana. The campaign which commemorated the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of the first recorded enslaved Africans in Jamestown Virginia, United States in 1619. The event sort to create opportunities for people of African decent to reconnect with their motherland Africa. The programme took place across several selected cities in Ghana beginning from Accra and terminating at Cape Coast Castle the UNESCO World Heritage site. The castle is a significant historical landmark representing the transatlantic slave trade, offering visitors a glimpse into Ghana’s past through preserved dungeons and exhibits.

Following the success of that event, the government of Ghana launched “Beyond the Return”, an effort to sustain the tempo of the initial programme and to promote tourism and the home coming of Africans and Diasporas to foster economic relations and investments from Diaspora.

The Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture Showcase after three successful editions though was put on hold for some years due to various factors including the outbreak of Ebola virus in the West Africa sub-region between 2014 -2015 and the covid-19 outbreak in 2020 followed by post-covid economic challenges. However, the initiative has received some high stake reviews and endorsements from both Ghana and Nigeria.

Former Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Ambassador Oluseyi Onafowokan, who was the chief host of the event in 2013 on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, held at the Accra International Conference Centre, Ghana, noted that over the years, “the Federal Government of Nigeria has been especially committed to the promotion of Nigeria’s diplomatic cultural policy hence the bilateral tourism and culture initiative is one that should be sustained given that both countries share so much in common”.

Also, former Ghana Minister of Culture and Traditional Affairs, Dr Henry Seidu Daana, says; “the support of the government and people of Ghana for the Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture Showcase is most commendable as it is geared towards promoting Africa’s tourism potential as well as the restoration and sustenance of the people’s cultural heritage” he noted. According to him, “the close socio-political and historical tie between both countries remains a good basis to annex the cultural values of the two nations for socio-economic development and bilateral growth”.

President of Pan Africa Ghana, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi describes the event as; “a stimulating intellectual platform, insightful lectures, interaction and exhibition of arts, craft, fashion with a gala/award night spiced with varieties that entails musical concert featuring Ghanaian and Nigerian artiste as One Band, One Stage, One Tribe”.

A one-time Ghana Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Hon. Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Aggyare says; “the collaborative efforts of Tribe Media Company and Pan African Ghana with supports from the Ghana Tourism Authority, Nigeria High Commission, Ghana towards the promotion and sustenance of African values through culture and tourism remains such a laudable bilateral forum. She stated. Both nations according to her; “need to promote understanding, foster sub-regional integration and economic development using tourism, arts and culture as a tool”.

Former Ghana Tourism Authority Acting Executive Director, Mrs Abigail Tagoe opines that, “with Africa fast becoming an emerging global market across different spectrum, it was pertinent that westernization is not allowed to sweep away the people’s ethics, norms and ideas which are often expressed via language, fashion, food, music and religious belief around which the Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture Showcase center’s explicitly”.

With such positive testaments and enduring echoes from the Ghana-Nigeria Tourism Showcase, there is no doubt that the true vision of the founding fathers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its objective is certainly being fulfilled. Therefore, the regional blocks aims of economic integration, by way of promoting cooperation, policies coordination, social inclusion, development, peace and security as such is also being fostered through the platform across the region.