Ghana's Slave Tourism - Assignment Example

GHANA’S SLAVE TOURISM Name: Institution: Date: Map of Ghana Tourist Destinations (msu.edu 2012). Ghana’s Slave Tourism Introduction Ghana is a country that is situated on the west coast of Africa and is one of the most flourishing countries in the African continent in terms of democracy. It is therefore no wonder that it is today referred to as the island of peace. Ghana is rapidly becoming a leading tourist destination for tourists and the government of Ghana is making efforts to develop and maintain the tourism industry through the ministry of Tourism and the Tourist Board of Ghana. This is in an effort to develop and maintain the industry and to turn it into a major source of foreign exchange and income for the development of the country. The tourism industry is rated as one of the major foreign exchange earners in Ghana but it still has a great potential which has not yet been tapped into. It is clear that the country’s tourism potential has not yet been explored and marketed to the maximum.The country, Ghana, is composed of ten regions with an estimated population of 23,382,848(2008). The topography of the country is divided into the Savanna belt, the forest zone and the Coastal areas. It is made up of about 60 ethnic groups. Almost 75 percent of Ghanaians are Christian; around 16 percent are Muslims and few follows indigenous beliefs. Travel as an activity began in Ghana among its inhabitants long before the country came into contact with European influences in the 15th century and is therefore not an importation of the industrial countries. Some of the main factors that led to the progress of travel include trade and migration as well as warfare. However, contact with European countries in the 15th century increased travel significantly (Kwadwo 2010). Migration seems to be the main factor that explains the movement of people in present Ghana during this period and this explains why many people living in Ghana today are not the original inhabitants of the region they presently occupy (Bourret 1960). The trans-Saharan trade also played a major role in shaping travel and interactions in Ghana pre-Independence with many people from the Northern African region travelling to do business with the local people in Ghana and this aided in boosting travel and tourism development in Ghana (Kimble 1971). Accommodation and catering services with a commercial intent were not as developed as they are today. Hotels have a short history in Ghana with the first one having been established in the 1930’s Tourism in Modern Ghana The ethical travelers’ report of 2010 placed Ghana in the 4th place in the list of top 10 developing countries that attract tourism and number 3 in West Africa (Ethical Traveler: world's 10 best destinations 2010). The hospitality industry in Ghana and hotels in particular had the biggest share in the revenue of the country of about 34% of the total income expended. Today, more and more people are realizing what an exciting place Ghana is to visit. The country offers the tourist a myriad of choices of attractions that are both exciting and interesting whether a tourist enjoys nature or history or whether the tourist is just out to have a good time. For those who enjoy the natural attractions, such as wild life reserves and national parks, the country has great national parks, sanctuaries and game reserves for Ghana tourists. There are Castles, lakes and waterfalls, natural attractions and a lot more (Travel-to-Discover-Ghana.com 2008). Ghana’s Natural Environment In line with the country’s policy concerning tourism, the conservation of the ecological historical and cultural heritage is very crucial in Ghana’s tourism. This part will discuss the natural environment that is of great importance to travel and tourism in Ghana. Eco-tourism Ghana’s is a delight for the nature lovers with its sunny equatorial climate and fertile soils which are well watered and which sustain a rich selection of wildlife ranging from elephants to monkeys and even marine turtles and crocodiles not forgetting the hundreds of species of colorful birds and butterflies (Ghana National Commission for UNESCO 2007). Over 5% of Ghana’s surface area is been granted official protection by the Government across 16 National parks or lower profile conservation areas of which there are two most popular national parks in tourist attraction namely; the Mole National Park based in the Northern Savanna region and the forested Kakum National park which is found near the Coast. Ghana has come out as a strong pioneer in the area of community based ecotourism. For instance, the Boabeng-Fiem Monkey Sanctuary which is the home of the sacred troops of black and white and mona colobus is one of the pioneer projects that led the way in Ecotourism when it was started in the year 1995 and remains a pioneer of in more than 24 other community based tourism project in the entire country (Ghana National Commission for UNESCO 2007). Photos: (Ghana National Commission for UNESCO, 2007). Among the 24 projects are; Wechiau Hippo sanctuary which is an award winning project in the upper west region and Amansuri wetland sanctuary in the Western region just to mention a few. The Volta region which is the most geographically varied region in Ghana also hosts a large number of community based ecotourism projects and is a site to reckon with in terms of scenery offering tourists a great opportunity for hiking, mountain biking and rambling (Ghana National Commission for UNESCO 2007). Popular attractions for tourists include the sacred monkeys of Tafi Atome, a mixture of splendid forests and waterfalls around Amedzofe, Ghana’s highest peak on a mountain called Afadjato, as well as the imposing forest fringed Wli falls which are the highest falls in West Africa at 60 meters (Travel-to-Discover-Ghana.co, 2008). Ghana is also highly appealing in terms of birds with about 725 species recorded in the country. For the informal visitor, the colorful savanna weavers, rollers, parrots and gonoleks are a great site, not to forget the eagles as well as other raptors that abide in the drier regions in the North. Serious lovers of birds however need to go into the shadowy rainforests in the interior regions such as Bui, Ankasa and Kakum to find the elusive types of birds that occupy those regions. There are also the extraordinary assortments as well as numbers of aquatic bird species that reside in the coastal regions such as Songor, MunI-Pomadze and Keta (Ghana National Commission for UNESCO 2007). Beaches Ghana has excellent beaches lined with palm trees along a 540 km Atlantic coast line. One of the most beautiful of these beaches is Ada Foah which is on the Volta Estuary and which is home to the endangered species of marine turtles. Other beaches that border the Elmina and Cape Coast offer those tourists who would love a combination of sunbathing and attractions of the historical sites a wonderful experience. Further west in Beyin, axim and Busua, are other beaches which offer tourists a get-way possibility of tranquil surroundings. Major Features of the Ghanaian Communities Taking at a closer look at the Ghanaian culture, one finds one of festivals which is an extremely attractive feature of the society and one which reveals a lot about the art and beliefs of the people of Ghana (Travel-to-Discover-Ghana.com 2008). These festivals are used as means of remembrance of the ancestors who according to the beliefs of the people of Ghana are their protectors. They are also held at the end of each year to sanctify the land and enable the people of the Ghanaian society to get in to a new year with expectations. PANAFEST This is a breathtaking rite which brings to life all the art and culture of the Ghana society such as dance, music, and other forms of drama. The festival is devoted to the development of the African culture as well as uplifting the ideals of Pan-Africanism. It is also dedicated to the unity of the Africans and their descendants in the Diaspora and other parts of Europe and America. It is held after every two years (Travel-to-Discover-Ghana.com 2008). Homowo - This is another festival that showcases the culture of the Busa people of Ghana. It is a festival that is dedicated every July and August to the thanksgiving and celebrations of Harvest (Travel-to-Discover-Ghana.com 2008). Fiok - Fiok Festival is held by the Ashanti people of Kumasi to celebrate the ancestral stools of the Ashanti people. Other festivals include Adae Kese and Hogbetsotso. These and many more are the attractive features of the Ghanaian society that any visitor would expect to meet while visiting this beautiful country. Ghana’s Heritage Resources Ghana throbs with life. From the outskirts of the capital Accra to the adobe villages found in the north, from the ancient Asante Kingdom to the medieval mosques of Laranga and Bole, Ghana has an enormous cultural assortment which fascinates and thrills any visitors that come into contact with the country bringing them into contact with a unique and purely African tempo. One of the most common features of the Ghanaian society is the love for festivals which are held on a weekly basis in the villages and towns with major festivals held annually. The normal point of beginning an exploration of Ghana is the capital city Accra which is one of the easiest places for one to find their way and also one of the safest cities in Africa (Ghana National Commission for UNESCO 2007). Usshertown and Jamestown, some of the oldest places in Accra offer a unique architectural mixture which spans several centuries from the past. They are also flavoured with very striking landmarks such as the Jamestown Lighthouse and Osu Castle dating back to the 17th century. Kumasi, which is Ghana’s second largest city is the capital of the Asante People and which is linked to the supply of slaves during the slave trade of the 15th -18th century. Besides the traditional heritage of Ghana, there are the forts and Castles, the greater Accra, the Volta region, the central region and Western regions which are major players in the fortification and designations of the Gold Coast (Modern day Ghana) as it was called during the colonial period. Ghana has over 40 Castles and forts. When we talk of Castes and Forts we are referring to 3 Castles, 15 forts in a relatively good condition, 10 forts in ruins and 7 sites with mark outs of initial fortifications and which were earmarked as world heritage sites by UNESCO in the year 1979. The Castles and forts of Ghana carry a very significant story of the country’s historic past. The construction of the fort of Elmina by the Europeans in the 1482 marked Europe’s first foothold of the African Continent. The El-mina Castle still remains the oldest building in Africa south of the Sahara that was built by Europeans. Not long after other nations joined them; the Germans, the British, Dutch, French, etc and all of them left buildings behind which are now designated the US World Heritage sites. By mid 15th Century, Slavery began when Europeans and Ghanaians (then Gold Coasters) stopped trading tobacco and alcohol etc for palm oil and other products and started trading guns and gun powder for Human Beings (Baddoo 2006). Trade Castles and forts were enlarged and stockrooms became prisons where prisoners would be held for weeks and even months until the ships got there and transported these human beings to America and the Caribbean to work as slaves on plantations. The human trafficking continued for about four century until the 19th century until it was stopped by a universal humanitarian call and colonization began with the Gold Coast becoming and English colony. This paper is about understanding the origins of tourism and travel in Ghana. One cannot ignore the obviously less than glorious elements of the past when visiting Ghana and even though Ghana has recovered significantly from the eighteenth century slave trade, the authority that the foreign powers such as the Dutch, British, Portuguese, etc, still remains in the Castles and forts that were used as prisons for slaves before being transported to the Americas and the Caribbean. Ghana has however long refused to remain stuck in this history and has taken possession of the memorials that saw thousands of its people taken away into slavery and is building a thriving tourist industry with these and showcasing the ancient forts that were built by the Europeans. The southern parts of the country have a distribution of large castles that are made from stone. one of those castles that was built by the Dutch now serves as official seat of the Government in Accra, Ghana’s capital. According to Tonking, these sites look like architectural aliens in the middle of the local landscape. (Tonking 2012). Just outside of Accra, a couple of hours of driving will take a visitor to the coastal town of the Cape coast which carries some of the premium forts built by the foreigners for slave trade sake and which are open to the public. America’s president Barrack Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama are some of the recent tourists of this site and a commemoration stone of their visit hangs there on a wall in the courtyard (Tonking 2012). Here you will find the museum, the male dungeon where men were kept; about 200 men in a single room that had no water or toilet and only a tiny window that provided just a prick of light in the words of Tonking who visited these sites (Tonking 2012).After that there is the women’s dungeon and lastly the gates of no return-the last section of the dark dungeons where slaves were loaded into the ships to be transported by sea. These were for many of them the last of what they ever saw of their country not to talk of the fact that many did not survive the journey. When following one of the low sloping tunnels that lead down into the dark depths of these sites, one is struck with overwhelming sadness. Today, this gate bears a new name “the gate of return” after some of the relatives of the original slaves returned and used the same dock that their relatives used to leave and entered the fort of the Cape Coast. The cape is no longer just a sad reminder of the thousands that were taken away; it is a memorial site to those that keep coming back. Up a flight of stairs from the dungeons below is a finer section of the fort and one would be shocked that while the slaves were suffering in the dungeons, there were people having some fun up there; the British managers of the port as well as the Merchants who were some of the Africans that benefitted a lot from the slave trade by acting as middle men. This place is known as the Palaver hall and it acted as accommodation for the merchants as well as a shop window for slaves on sale. Cape Coast (www.australiantimes.co.uk). Effects of Tourism on Local Communities Today some of these places such as the Cape Coast acts as curio shops for local artists who sell their wares to the visitors of the fort. The Ghanaian Government continues with its efforts to repurpose the forts and most of the rooms in them are now leased by rich local business men. Tourism plays a major role in the economic lives of the people of Ghana since the industry is a sub sector industry with many facets such as food accommodation, entertainment, souvenirs (handcrafts) and many more, it is a labor intensive industry and a major job creator in Ghana. Between 2006 and 2008 for instance, the industry generated about 300,000 jobs both directly and indirectly for the local communities (Ghana National Commission for UNESCO 2007). Factors that attract Tourists to Ghana Motivations Many of the visitors of the Cape Coast in Ghana and other such places in Africa are Americans and Europeans. The following are perhaps two of the most important motivations that draw visitors from the Americas and Europe to Cape Coast Heritage and Identity Today, Ghana has turned most of these sites into a commodity in tourism with most of its campaign being targeted at America and the Black Diaspora According to Essah, Americans are targeted particularly because they are seen as visiting Ghana in the search of their African roots (Essah 2001). The pan-African Historical Theater Festival (PANAFEST) is one festivity that focuses on Black Diaspora to promote tourism in Ghana and in 2001; PANAFEST recorded a number of African-Americans who combined the attendance of these festivals with their quest for knowledge about their heritage (PANAFEST 2003). Educational / Historical / Remembrance Motivations Numerous academics have found that cultural interest including history is one of the main motivations for visiting sites of tourism generally. They are; novelty and education (Crompton 1979 ; Anderton 1995 ; Pearce & Caltabiano 1983) Push Factors Ghana provides its tourists with a wide ranging accomodation establishments which meet International standards to choose from. They include five star hotels and homestays. These can be found in locations such as Gomoah Fetteh, Elmina, Cape Coast, Axim, Busua, Ada foah, just to name but a few of the tourist sites. They can also be found in all the capitals of districts, regions and towns. There are also budget hotels availablein each of the mentions areas and beyond (Akwaaba Welcome 2009). Pull Factors A pull factor in Tourism refers to the factors that serve as a force of attraction and the knowledge that the tourists hol about the site In the case of Ghana they are: Environmental attractions, Cultural Heritage and ecotourism. Environmental attractions These are discussed in a previous section of this paper however kthis section will touch on them briefly to demonstrate their role in the attraction of visitors. Environmentral factors in Ghana include: Beaches, Mountains, waterfalls, Natural parks, wildlife,as well as the Tropical climate of the country which attracts many visitors from cold regions. Cultural Heritage Ghana like we have seen boosts of major traditional festivals, which remain portent attractions to both local and foreign tourists and visitors. The most popular among all which is held every two years and attract more tourists mostly Africans in Diasporas is the PANAFEST. Chieftaincy is also one important aspect of the Ghanaian culture and as such much attention is given to it. Durbar and festivals also attract tourism throughout the country and Cape Coast. This is the time where the Kings and Royals exhibit the richness of the City's royalty and traditions. The Fetu Afahye (Fetu festival) among others is the most famous and biggest traditional festival celebrated by the Kings and people of Ghana (Arthu & Mensah, 2006). Ecotourism Ghana has developed a culture of preserving its natural resources through ecotourism through various projects that have already discussed in this paper among them Boabeng-Fiem Monkey Sanctuary, Wechiau Hippo Sanctuaryand Amansuri Wetland Sanctuary among others. Today Ghana has over 24 such projects which is a major boost to the tourism industry (Ghana National Commission for UNESCO 2007) Push Factors Push factors in tourism are the needs that make a tourist desire to visit a specific destination. they could be psychological need, need for security, need for a sense of belonging, need to boost one’s self esteem, need for self actualization and even a need for knowledge. Ghana provides its visitors with all the above since it’s a safe haven and anyone who need to get away from their daily hustle and bustle are able to find tranquility Ghana (Ghana National Commission for UNESCO 2007). Transport The Ghana tourism board is making all the tourism destinations in the country accessible to attract more tourists so that tourists enjoy their total travel experience. The entire tourist sites in Ghana are accessible by road to all tourists since road networks connecting to all the sites are constructed and maintained constantly, plans are underway to construct an airport in cape coast to enable air transport to the region. Those sites that are in remote area are also published in the daily newspapers to create an awareness of them to the people. Electricity and good drinking water is also easily accessible. Accommodation Ghana provides its tourists with a wide ranging accomodation establishments which meet International standards to choose from. They include five star hotels and homestays. These can be found in locations such as Gomoah Fetteh, Elmina, Cape Coast, Axim, Busua, Ada foah, just to name but a few of the tourist sites. They can also be found in all the capitals of districts, regions and towns. There are also budget hotels availablein each of the mentions areas and beyond (Akwaaba Welcome 2009). Gastronomic Experiences Ghana is well noted for its traditional food culture throughout Africa, therefore it is the best place for one to be exposed to real African meal and Ghanaian dishes. There are varieties of food, diet and local African drinks and beverage to enjoy. Ghana, as known in the world to be the second largest cocoa producer of the world has one of the best chocolate you can have in the world with natural cocoa. The dishes included: Kooko and Maasa, Tuo Zaafi, Kelewele, ―Dafadutu, Aprapransa, Kuliku-li, Ngmedaa, Achieke, Fomfom and local drinks like sobolo, prekese and ginger (Ghana Tourism Board 2010). Component for a Brochure A brochure on Ghana Tourism should constitute the following; A welcome note, destination (where to go and for what purpose), Ghana’s Culinaries (Where and what to eat), Accomodation (Where to stay), Festivals (cultural events to attend) (Akwaaba Welcome 2009). Conclusion There is an obvious need for further research into the motivation of tourism. However, there are many lessons that can be learned from Ghana’s tourism which can be interpreted into different uses for different people be they managers or administrators of these sites, tourists or academics. The growing popularity of these sites however calls for an understanding of visitor motivation given their roles as reservoirs of memory and identity. References Akwaaba Welcome, 2009, Akqwaaba Welcome: The Official Website of Ghana Tourism, Retrieved May 23, 2012, from Ghana Tourism: http://www.touringghana.com/default.asp Anderton, D, 1995, Looking at Tourism, London: Hodder and Stoughton. Arthu, P, & Mensah, A,2006, Urban management and heritage tourism for sustainable development, New York: Amazon. Baddoo, S, 2006, September 1st, Ghana: The Black Diaspora's Heritage Center, Retrieved May 21st, 2012, from Travel/Outdoors: http://www.goghanahometours.com Bourret, F, 1960, Ghana: The road to Independence 1919-1957, London: Oxford University Press. Crompton, L, 1979, Motivations for Pleasure Vacation, Annals of Tourism Research Vol, 6 , 406-423. Essah, P, 2001, Slavery, Heritage and Tourism in Ghana, International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Administration , 30-48. Ethical Traveler: world's 10 best destinations, 2010, March 22, world's 10 best destinations, Retrieved May 23, 2012, from The Free Library: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ethical+traveler%3A+world%27s+10+best+destinations.-a0221273999 Ghana National Commission for UNESCO, 2007, Ghana: Tourism-Culture, Wamth and much more, accra: natcomreport.com. Ghana Tourism Board, 2010, Tourism Statistics Fact Sheet on Ghana, Accra: Ghana Tourism Board. Kimble, D, 1971, A political history of Ghana : The rise of Gold Coast nationalism 1850-1928, Oxford: Clarendon. Kwadwo, W, 2010, THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALS OF GHANA’S CAPE COAST AS A DESTINATION-A THESIS FOR A DEGREE IN TOURISM, Helsinki: Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. msu.edu, 2012, Ghana Tourist Map, Retrieved May 23, 2012, from http://mappery.com/map-of/Ghana-Tourist-Map PANAFEST, 2003, March 19th, PANAFEST, Retrieved May 22nd, 2012, from Welcome to PANAFEST: http://www.panafest.org/home.html Pearce, L, & Caltabiano, M, 1983, Inferring Travel Motivation for Travellers’ Experience, Journal of Travel Research , 15-20. Tonking, F, 2012, March 22nd, Down a deep dark African Dungeon, Retrieved May 22nd, 2012, from australian Times.co.uk: www.australiantimes.co.ke Travel-to-Discover-Ghana.com, 2008, Ghana facts and History, Retrieved May 23, 2012, from Travel-to-Discover-Ghana.com: http://www.travel-to-discover-ghana.com/ghana-attractions.html Read More