Ghana Tourism Sector Faces Challenges From Poor Sanitation And Infrastructure, Leaders Call For Improvements To Boost Growth

Published on November 3, 2025

Poor sanitation and degrading roadworthy infrastructure person go a dent to Ghana tourism industry. Such concerns were precocious raised by Banibensu Samuel Ashford, nan President of nan Tour Guides Association of Ghana, wherein he lamented nan harm these copy problems were causing to Ghana’s estimation successful nan tourism world. In an elaborate commentary connected Sunday, Ashford called retired that Ghana was yet to understand that cleanliness and bully infrastructure stay portion of what world visitors seek.

The Impact of Poor Sanitation connected Tourism

Sanitation has agelong been a awesome rumor for Ghana’s tourism experience, peculiarly for foreign visitors who are accustomed to precocious standards of cleanliness erstwhile visiting world destinations. Ashford stressed that Ghana’s biology cleanliness is often a first belief for tourists, and nan deficiency of due waste management and public education connected sanitation is damaging nan country’s tourism appeal.

Ashford recalled a memorable incident erstwhile he was hosting visitors and drove them from Tema Harbour to Accra. During nan journey, 1 of nan visitors questioned, “Sam, why are you driving america done garbage?” This uncomfortable infinitesimal highlighted a glaring gap successful Ghana’s tourism infrastructure. It is not conscionable an inconvenience for visitors but besides an embarrassment for nan tourism sector, which relies connected nan positive experience of visitors to beforehand repeat visits and word-of-mouth recommendations. Without due sanitation practices and visible efforts to support clean nationalist spaces, Ghana risks losing tourists to much hygienic and organized destinations.

The Role of Road Infrastructure successful Tourism Development

In summation to sanitation issues, poor roadworthy infrastructure is different important barrier to tourism growth successful Ghana. Ashford highlighted nan roadworthy conditions successful Somanya, Okoenya, and nan Accra–Akosombo highway, wherever potholes and deteriorated roads make recreation uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe for tourists. These roadworthy issues not only origin inconvenience but besides create a negative impression of nan country, which is particularly problematic for tourists who are visiting nan country’s earthy reserves, historical sites, and cultural landmarks.

Tourists who recreation from world airports for illustration Kotoka International Airport successful Accra to scope various attractions successful Ghana are often faced pinch long, bumpy rides that diminish nan wide tourism experience. If nan roads starring to cardinal tourist sites are not well-maintained, it tin consequence successful lower customer satisfaction, reduced return visits, and moreover lost revenue for businesses successful nan tourism industry, including hotels, tour operators, and local markets.

Tourism’s Economic Importance and nan Need for Infrastructure Improvements

The tourism sector plays a vital role successful Ghana’s economy, contributing to employment, foreign speech earnings, and business growth. Poor infrastructure, particularly roads, severely affects nan tourism flow and visitor satisfaction, making it a pressing issue that needs urgent attention from some government authorities and private stakeholders. The tourism industry generates important economic activity, particularly successful regions for illustration Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast, wherever humanities sites, national parks, and beaches pull thousands of world visitors.

However, to afloat capitalize connected this potential, Ghana needs to put successful improving roads, particularly those starring to major tourer attractions for illustration Mole National Park, Lake Volta, and Cape Coast Castle. Improved infrastructure would not only use tourists but besides guarantee local businesses successful tourism, hospitality, and service sectors person much visitors, starring to job creation, increased revenue, and sustained economical growth.

Impact of Poor Infrastructure connected Visitor Experience and Reputation

Tourism successful Ghana has important potential, but nan visitor experience is presently being impacted by poor infrastructure and hygiene practices. A negative impression of nan country’s road conditions and waste management tin lead to poor reviews, affecting nan semipermanent reputation of Ghana arsenic a tourist destination. Ashford shared an illustration wherever a tourist’s sojourn was trim short owed to nan poor roadworthy conditions and deficiency of comfortable amenities. The visitant described their acquisition pinch 2 words: “Filth and poverty.” This guidance reflects a superior rumor for Ghana, which intends to pull international tourists and promote return visits. Negative feedback specified arsenic this tin beryllium detrimental to Ghana’s expertise to build a strong world tourism presence.

Reversing nan Trend: Addressing nan Challenges Head-On

If Ghana is to compete connected nan world tourism stage, nan authorities must prioritize investments successful infrastructure and public wellness initiatives. Improving sanitation done awareness campaigns, amended waste management, and cleaning programs successful public spaces is basal to creating a much welcoming environment for tourists. Additionally, upgrading roads starring to awesome tourist destinations and ensuring better access for travelers will straight amended tourism satisfaction and boost visitant numbers.

The Ministry of Tourism, successful collaboration pinch local governments, must guarantee that tourism-supporting infrastructure is improved crossed nan country. Improved roads, clean nationalist spaces, and well-maintained tourer sites are basal to enhancing Ghana’s image arsenic a leading African destination for adventure tourism, cultural tourism, and wildlife tourism.

Looking to nan Future: Sustainable Growth for Ghana’s Tourism Industry

This will proceed to clasp backmost Ghana’s tourism manufacture until basal issues pinch nan country’s sanitation and infrastructure are resolved. This is not only astir improving tourism but besides helping nan section group done occupation creation, betterment successful their businesses, and expanding gross derived from this important sector. With finance successful roads, improvements successful discarded management, and nationalist services, location is nary logic why Ghana should not beryllium a starring destination for world travelers complete nan adjacent decade. Alongside pinch amended infrastructure, cleaner streets, and easier touring, Ghana would clasp its position arsenic a lively, friends destination for eco-tourists, taste travelers, and adventurers from astir nan world.