President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Friday cut a sod for the development of a 241 acre Accra coastline into a multi-billion dollar tourism enclave in Accra.
The Marine Drive project which is expected to boost the tourism industry and further create jobs for over 150, 000 people in the country, is expected to be completed by 2027.
The project when completed will have facilities such as boardwalk, hotels, shopping mall, restaurant, park, landing site and a 3,000-seater concert hall.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, President Akufo-Addo mentioned that Countries all over the world have made good use of their beaches of which huge revenue is being derived, stressing that Ghana intends to follow such awe-inspiring steps.
He said, the vision to modernize the entire beach front was preconceived by Ghana’s first President; Dr. Kwame Nkrumah some 60 years ago, the Akufo-Addo-led administration will give life to it by ensuring its manifestation.
“I am happy that in spite of the many unsuccessful efforts made in the past to undertake this project, today, we are beginning this project” he said.
The President again pointed out that the $1.2billion Marine Drive project which has only received verbal commitments since it was conceived by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1963, would be executed in order to create jobs and drive development in the country.
He recalled that Late Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey who was the Tourism Minister between 2002 and 2005 got the design for the project done.
He said: “I wish to thank all the stakeholders, the Osu Mantse, Gbese Mantse, Ga Mantse, Ga Adangbe Council, the fishermen, the artisans and craft makers, the vegetable farmers, the hotelier, and all who have had sacrifice their convenience to bring this project to fruition. To our members in Parliament in Koley Klottey and Odododiodio, thank you for been part of this process to transform our coastline.”
Cabinet’s approval for the project was secured by immediate past Tourism Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare and the Executive Instrument was issued for the acquisition of the land.
In her address, the tourism Minister, Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku, revealed that the core objectives of the various development plans for the Marine Drive were among many to decongest the city centre of non-conforming uses and re-instate a new land use structure befitting the capital city.
She added that it is also to intensify the use of land to be consistent with the high values of land and counteract the apparent scarcity of land in Accra and further to create an environment to attract high levels of investment in the city.
“Though some attempts were made in the past to develop the Marine area, such efforts failed due to a variety of reasons including the lack of technical and financial resources and amongst others. A paradigm shift and effective development strategy as well as political commitments were required to implement such an iconic project to make Ghana more competitive and increase her global tourism market share” she said.
The Tourism Minister again mentioned that though the project spans over 10 years period, with adequate preparation and commitment, the implementation of the project could be completed earlier than scheduled.
The Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Joel Sonne, added that the project which is grounded on tourism planning principles of sustainable development emphasises the use of local content in terms of construction materials and that “It is also to create jobs and increase income generation for the local people, increase foreign direct investment and contributes to the GDP, increase and supply and value chain linkages, conservation of cultural, historical and environmental heritage and further promotes urban regeneration in the central business district of the city.”