The Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC), in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and its agencies, launched the Accra Tour by Night initiative as part of President John Mahama’s broader 24-hour economy vision on April 30, 2025.
This project seeks to highlight Ghana’s nightlife and rich cultural heritage to attract both local and international tourists. The project, spearheaded by GTDC’s CEO, Professor Kobby Mensah, is projected to generate about ¢190,000 in revenue by the end of 2025.
In an exclusive interview with the High Street Journal’s Nii Marmah Boy, Kobby Mensah disclosed that the GTDC expects the night tours to contribute about ¢190,000 to Ghana’s tourism revenue by December 2024.
“When we did our projections, this is what we expected,” Mensah said. “Between May and the end of the year, we anticipate generating about ¢190,000. This is a very modest figure because we’re still in the exploratory phase. But the potential is enormous. This initiative could become a major revenue stream for Ghana’s tourism sector.”
The maiden Accra Tour by Night took off from the Accra Tourist Information Centre, taking participants through an exploration of aspects of the capital’s historical and cultural sites. Led by Stanley Yaw Ati and Rev. Daniel Obeng Asiedu (Ghana Ba) of the Ghana Tourism Authority, the tour featured locations like Cantonment & Ridge (colonial-era residential areas), Jubilee House (the seat of government), James Town & the Lighthouse (historic Ga coastal community), Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum (tribute to Ghana’s founding father), Historic churches and Accra’s Central Business District among others.
The initiative provides a fresh perspective on the city’s heritage, allowing tourists and locals alike to experience Accra’s nightscape while learning about its past.
The GTDC currently operates with only one tour vehicle which is owned by the Ghana Tourism Authority, but Mensah remains confident that with increased investment and promotion, the night tourism concept could largely expand.
The Accra Tour by Night is a direct implementation of President Mahama’s 24-hour economy policy, which seeks to stimulate round-the-clock economic activity across key sectors, including tourism.
“Our president has given us a vision of expanding Ghana’s economy beyond traditional working hours,” Mensah stated.
“Ghana is one of the safest countries in Africa, why should tourism stop at sunset? The Black Star Experience means visitors should enjoy Ghana’s beauty and hospitality at any time. Night tours offer a different vibe, a different energy, and most importantly, they create jobs and boost local businesses,” he added.
Beyond Accra’s city tours, the GTDC is exploring other high-potential tourism sites, including The World Centre in Tema (Ghana’s unique position at longitude zero), Latitude Zero Cruise Experience (a proposed boat tour to the equator’s intersection point). If successful, the initiative may inspire similar projects from Kumasi cultural night tour to Cape Coast night tour to further driving Ghana’s 24-hour economy agenda.
In attendance were Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie (Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts), Kofi Okyere Darko (Director of Diaspora Affairs, Ghana), Maame Efua Houadjeto (CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority), Abeiku Santana (DCEO, Ghana Tourism Authority), Felicity Nelson (DCEO, Ghana Tourism Development Company), and other guests including lecturers and business owners.
