Only 40 Minutes to Kumasi: Quick connections advantage

Domestic tourism is not part of our DNA as a people, for which reason, there are Ghanaians who do not know the country apart from the towns and cities they reside, or work in.

We would rather pay heavily for tickets and the acquisition of visas to travel outside to explore other people’s countries.

On the other hand, we have tourists who come and enjoy our weather, have fun and indulge in our culture.

And so last week, as I made a trip to Kumasi, it heavily dawned on me that we have not been doing well in exploring and promoting our cities, towns and our culture.

I have, since my trip, been wondering why the Ghana Airports Company, internal flight operators, travel agencies, hotels and the Ghana Tourism Authority, for example, would not promote selling domestic tourism and, indirectly, their businesses?

No doubt, countless opportunities are available.

There are people who always crave to know their country better, and its rich cultures.

Such people would always want to turn to help from organised agencies that could put together a package for something of the sort.

For many of us who look for adventures, refreshing moments and a change of environment, there are already flights that would take us there within the hour, but once you get there, what next?

That is where tourist agencies come in.  

In the past week, as I pondered, I concluded that the Ashanti capital alone sums up one’s expectations of a refreshing break, something to see and do, even for a day’s trip.

My visit to Kumasi by air was so enchanting that I would recommend a refreshing getaway, even if for just a day, to those who have never been to Kumasi and want to have a taste of the city.

Internal flights

In just 40 minutes away, in the existing internal flights, with their on-time operations and well-maintained safety standards, one sees no reason why day excursions could not work.

Especially where travelling six hours on deplorable roads to and from Kumasi has broken the attraction for many would-be travellers.  

However, with the ease of efficient internal flights operating from early morning till night, passengers who plan to go to Kumasi and return the same day, be it for functions such as weddings, funerals, festivals or just as a day’s getaway, the benefit of flying out early morning and returning late evening is available.

Since the refurbishment of the old airport to an international status, last week was my first time flying into Kumasi, even though I had visited a few times by road.

Admittedly, the new airport has a class, and so are the arrival and departure halls, luggage carousel, outside environment from drive-in to parking spaces.

The welcome of arriving passengers, as some of us experienced last week, presented a special Akwaaba as smartly dressed ladies lined up with smiles, holding baskets of sweets and cookies for passengers to pick from. One could see that the gesture was well appreciated by passengers.

Whatever that gesture symbolised, it was a unique experience that the management of the airport dished out to passengers.

Tricycles

A few minutes into town and soon after the airport roundabout, a new reality and characteristic of Kumasi and the Ashanti Region presented itself.

Tricycles, known as Abobo Yaa in local parlance, were all over the place, adding to the traffic congestion in Kumasi, more like what okada is in certain parts of Accra.

Though annoying on the road, I admired the accepted role they were probably playing for commuters who were comfortably seated and being driven around.

I decided to have a taste of it before I left Kumasi.

I courageously boarded one the day after, and I enjoyed a conversation with the rider and sought to know why they called it Abobo Yaa, since the name Yaa was synonymous with females born on Thursdays.  

He could not give me any meaningful explanation and so left the topic to concentrate on his riding, as we were going through some of the most difficult, traffic-congested areas in Kumasi.

With my curiosity piqued, back in Bekwai, some 24 miles from Kumasi, the day after and seeing Abobo Yaa wherever I turned, I decided to take another ride and find answers to my question.

Once again, no credible answers were forthcoming, so I gave up, having enjoyed my second ride in a tricycle.  

Even though I had an agenda for my visit, I seemed to have had a beautiful tourism experience, not quite planned for.

My two separate encounters with Abobo Yaa, which I would never have dared do in Accra, were both notable.

Those were probably the beauty of my getaway from Accra, and I felt my airfare was somehow paid for with the daring moments on tricycles.

Back in Accra, and on reflection, I strongly believe the a need for organised tourism to promote leisure and even trade between the two cities.

What we probably need to start with are reasonably priced internal fares to encourage more travel.

Once we get the fares right and affordable, a major domestic tourism boom will be on board. Is Ghana Airports listening? 

Writer’s E-mail: vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com