Accra By Night & Beyond: Prof. Mensah Shares President Mahama’s Big Tourism Mission

Professor Kobby Mensah, the CEO of the Ghana Tourism Development Company and a Marketing Professor at the University of Ghana, Legon, says he is very grateful to President John Dramani Mahama for giving him the chance to lead the Tourism Development Company.

In an interview with Peter Clottey on Africa Thinks, Prof. Mensah explained that President Mahama wanted his second term to show real impact. According to him, the President didn’t just appoint him alone, he brought in several professors from different universities, especially the University of Ghana, because he wanted people who could deliver results.

“When we met the President, his message was simple,” Prof. Mensah said. “He wants impact. He wants us to work for the people of Ghana.” He added that his agency, which is one of 13 under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, is responsible for developing the tourism sector. “We are seen as the commercial arm of the ministry, so we bring investment into tourism, create new ideas, new projects, and help tourism businesses grow. We also work on attracting new visitors to Ghana. To do that, we must think differently, come up with fresh ideas, and make sure our tourism is both attractive and sustainable. That was the President’s charge to us.”

Prof. Mensah explained that President Mahama wanted people who could truly deliver, which is why he mixed his appointments, not only choosing political figures but also experts and academics who understand the sector well and can make things happen. “That’s why he appointed some of us,” he said.

When speaking about the “Accra By Night” initiative, Prof. Mensah clarified that it wasn’t something he created from scratch but was used by students of Legon to describe the VC residence where you can see beautiful Accra at night. “The idea already existed,” he said. “Ghana has been working to make its tourism more attractive for many years, starting from the days of Jerry Rawlings. Programs like Panafest and the Emancipation celebrations showed Ghana’s desire to connect with the African diaspora.”

He explained that the phrase “Accra By Night” was already known, but he wanted to use it to show a new, modern side of Accra and help Ghana compete in the global tourism market. “I wanted to show that Ghana is safe and lively at night, and also support the President’s vision of a 24-hour economy,” he said.

Prof. Mensah added that today, about 90% of Accra By Night tickets are bought through the Ghana Tourism Marketplace, a digital platform where people can purchase tourism services and products. “This means visitors don’t need to wait until they arrive in Ghana to pay. They can buy everything with a card or mobile money from wherever they are, even before stepping into the country,” he explained.

Writer: Frederick Nortey 

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