After years of uncertainty triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana’s tourism sector is starting to recover.
According to new data from the Ghana Tourism Authority, international arrivals hit a record high of 1.29 million visitors in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic figures from 2019.
At the same time, several of the country’s most iconic tourist attractions — including Cape Coast Castle, the Kumasi Zoo, and the newly renovated Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park — all recorded high growth.
Ghana, like much of the world, saw a dramatic drop in tourism in 2020, with international arrivals plunging to 355,000 — down from over 1.13 million in 2019.
But the recovery has been swift and steady, with arrivals more than tripling by 2024.
Kwame Nkrumah Park Steals the Spotlight
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, dedicated to Ghana’s first president, after its major facelift, recorded 333,233 visitors in 2024, a dramatic rise from just 28,361 in 2021.
The Cape Coast Castle also saw a jump in visitors, reaching 120,242 in 2024 compared to 47,931 in 2021.
Meanwhile, Kakum National Park, known for its iconic canopy walkway, attracted 183,757 visitors, maintaining its status as one of the country’s most visited natural attractions.
Surprising Standouts and New Entrants
While historical and natural sites continue to attract large numbers, the data shows a few surprises:
- Bunso Arboretum, a lesser-known eco-tourism site, saw a massive jump to 155,149 visitors in 2024, up from just 30,152 in 2021 — possibly due to increased promotion of domestic tourism and school trips.
- The Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, a relatively new entry in the data, welcomed 106,100 visitors in 2024 after debuting in 2023.
On the other hand, Aburi Botanical Gardens, once a top destination, saw a decline in 2024 to 52,330 visitors, down from its 2022 peak of 186,109.
This article was written and summarised with the aid of AI
