The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture in Ghana, Mark Okraku-Mantey, has been a proponent of the idea of funeral tourism, despite it not being included in the manifesto of the New Patriotic Party.
During a recent debate on the creative economy on Joy FM, Okraku-Mantey expressed his belief in the concept.
According to Okraku-Mantey, funeral tourism has the potential to attract travelers and boost the tourism industry in Ghana.
He highlighted the example of Japan, where cemeteries are popular tourist sites due to their unique attractions. He emphasized that Ghanaians already travel for funerals, so incorporating tourism into this practice could bring added benefits.
His co-speaker at the debate, Akwasi Agyeman, the Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority, also supported the idea of leveraging funerals for tourism gains.
Agyeman explained that funerals have tourism potential, as they involve various elements like music, cultural performances, and local cuisine, which can attract visitors.
The discussion on funeral tourism was initially sparked in November 2021 by Mark Okraku-Mantey on Hitz FM, quoting Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, the former Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture.
Dr. Awal later reignited the debate, proposing a strategy to combine funerals with visits to tourist attractions to stimulate the local economy and create job opportunities.
Currently, Ghana’s tourism industry is touted as the second-largest sector of the country’s economy.
