Ghanaian dishes used as tourism product

Accra, Sept. 25, GNA - A variety of Ghanaian dishes and drinks were on Friday put on display for the pleasure of participants at the on-going World Tourism Day.

The dishes included: "Kooko and Maasa", "Tuo Zaafi", "Kelewele", "Dafadutu", "Aprapransa", "Kulikuli", "Ngmedaa", "Achieke", "Fomfom" and local drinks like "sobolo", "prekese" and ginger.

The dishes were prepared by chefs and traditional caterers from the 10 regions of Ghana at a food or gastronomy fair organised as part of the celebration been dished on the theme: "Tourism Celebrating Diversity.".

Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Tourism, who sampled some of the dishes, said food tourism was one of the latest developments in the tourism sector.

"Food is sometimes the central lure to attract a tourist to a destination," she said.

Mrs Azumah-Mensah said local and regional dishes had emerged as a big marketing tool in the tourism industry, and urged Ghanaian chefs and traditional caterers to be innovative and package the Ghanaian cuisine to meet international standards.

Mr. Marcelo Risi, Media Relations Officer at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Secretariat, said gastronomy was a living example of diversity.

He explained that the dishes were unique, nutritious and demonstrated diversity.

Mr. Risi urged participants to perceive the tourism industry as an empowering economic vehicle that created job opportunities for thousands around the globe.

Ms. Adeline Boateng, Quality Assurance Manager at Ghana Tourists Board, said tourism hinged on food because every traveller needed food on arrival at a destination. She said most of the Ghanaian dishes were prepared from ingredients that had medicinal value adding that they are very good for one's health.