The Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Mr. Yusif Jajah has called for greater collaboration between Ghana and Nigeria in the area of tourism. He said this while giving a keynote speech at a dinner organized at Safari Valley Resort, Adukrom, for the National Executive Council of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) who was on retreat and familiarization tour to the Safari World, a key leisure tourism, and entertainment company in Ghana.
The Ghanaian tourism minister said Nigerians are the second in tourist arrival to Ghana with the United States of America’s citizens coming first. He said he would like to see this number increase. His Words: “This executive dinner is an important platform for strengthening collaboration between our government, tourism stakeholders, and travel trade partners. Nigeria, our big brothers, remains one of Ghana’s most important tourism markets. According to the 2025 Tourism Report, Ghana received over 1.3 million international visitors in the year 2025, and Nigeria ranks as our second largest source of market.
“In other words, out of that 1.3 million, Nigeria as was said, America is the first international arrival, and our big brother Nigeria is the second largest (over 176,000 international arrivals from Nigeria) .
“We appreciate that, but despite this number, we know it’s more than this number, but at least, it’s an indication about over 176,000 in the year 2025 international arrivals from Nigeria to Ghana. Thank you. We will be more than happy to also hear our Ghanaians who always visit Nigeria, so that we can synergise. This exemplifies a strong people-to-people connection between our countries.”
The NANTA President Dr. Yinka Folami while speaking told the audience that his association, NANTA, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, currently has over 4000 members across different regions of Nigeria. He said Ghana and Nigeria have always partnered with each other, and it was a legacy his association intends to continue to build upon. He continued: “One undeniable fact is that Ghana and Nigeria have always been on the positive side of Pan-Africanism. Every journey between Ghana and Nigeria will strengthen Pan-Africa. When I was in school, my geography teacher, a Ghanaian, would always tell us how Africa was partitioned. And that those maps are for administrative convenience. We are one continent, and it will be a sin for any Nigerian or African not to support or market Safari World.”
He also encouraged Ghanaian tourism professionals to promote Nigeria as a destination.
Talking about the founder and chief executive of Safari World Mr. Samuel Afari, the NANTA President described his tourism vision as incredible and abnormal and urged his members to convert the exposure to Safari World facilities to commercial success. His words: “And what you have built is breath-taking. And I want to thank you. So, because we now know, I’m putting this challenge to my colleagues. We must convert this to commercial opportunities for our members.”
The founder and chief executive of Safari World, Mr. Samuel Afari, described the visit of NANTA as positive development for the regional cooperation among West Africa countries, and also a fulfillment of a 15-year vision of building a partnership between his organization and the Nigerian travel and tourism market.
NANTA also presented certificates of appreciation to both the Ghanaian tourism minister and Mr. Samuel Afari.
