{"id":200612,"date":"2016-03-21T14:15:38","date_gmt":"2016-03-21T14:15:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=200612"},"modified":"2016-03-21T14:15:38","modified_gmt":"2016-03-21T14:15:38","slug":"heritagecaravan-around-ghana-in-7-days-a-travelers-view","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/03\/heritagecaravan-around-ghana-in-7-days-a-travelers-view\/","title":{"rendered":"#HeritageCaravan: Around Ghana in 7-days; a traveler’s view"},"content":{"rendered":"

These days I am a happy man. A very happy man on account of one thing: at long last the media is categorically talking the tourism language. It has been a long time coming but, change is here.\u00a0One of my pet hypotheses is what happens if our mass media shines 10% of the light they focus on sports to tourism and the arts?<\/p>\n

You won\u2019t believe my delight a couple of weeks ago, when CITI FM invited me to join a road trek across Ghana that the Accra based – FM Station was organising.<\/p>\n

They explained that my recently-published books were part of the inspiration for the project.<\/p>\n

\"Preparing
Preparing to set off. Monday March 7.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This was going to be a component of their annual Heritage Month initiative. A media house on the fore front in domestic tourism? It was too good to believe. When I got to know about the details, I had two quick impressions: ambitious but do-able.<\/p>\n

Starting from March 7, the caravan spent seven days on the road across eight of Ghana\u2019s 10 regions. In all there were about 82 ladies and gentlemen on board. The ages of the travellers range from as young as 19 to as experienced as 70-something.<\/p>\n

\"First
First stop was the Adaklu Mountain in the Volta Region.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In terms of background, the travel party was made of young professionals, businessmen, software developers, lawyers, medical doctors, engineers, musicians, and oh, yes, public servants. There were also couples, both married and aspiring as well as Miss Tourism Beauty Queens who exhibited toughness in elegance.<\/p>\n

Dubbed \u2018Heritage Caravan\u2018, the road trip brought together these out-going individuals who were eager to experience the allure of Ghana-land in a unique and fun way. Together, the travel party encountered and savoured the diverse cultural offerings of our lovely country.<\/p>\n

\"From
From Adaklu, the #HeritageCaravan went to the Eastern Region, before heading for #Kumasi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yours Truly and CITI FM\u2019s versatile gem, Kojo Akoto Boateng played the role of tour guide. And I must confess that Kojo, an unrepentant fufu lover knows and loves his country in an impressively equal measure.\u00a0It was admirable to see the CITI FM team including top management hands on, in the thick of things and with shoulders to the wheel. I mean even CEO Samuel Attah Mensah (Sammens) was there some!<\/p>\n

\"All
All hands on deck.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here, one must also mention the pragmatic influence of Jessica Opare Saforo, the workaholism of Philip Kofi Ashon, the thoroughness of trip reporter Kojo Agyemang and the thoughtfulness of our Matron of the Road, Diva Rastina. Of course, back at the studios in Accra, the likes of Bernard Avle, Nana Ama Agyeman Asante and Richard Dela Sky made sure the rest of the world followed the caravan\u2019s track and activities.<\/p>\n

\"Kumasi
Kumasi was fun. Rattray was exciting. Manhyia was revealing. (Jessica Opare Saforo and Ike Dsani having fun at Rattray)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Highlights? That would be hard to say. For me, the entire affair was a dream-come-true. You have a cross-section of Ghanaians who have ventured out of their comfort zones for days on end. Some applied for leave, some asked for that odd week off and others just practically bolted away!<\/p>\n

VIDEO: Scenes from the Heritage Caravan<\/strong><\/p>\n