Gov’t Courts Investors for Marine Drive Project, Says Tourism Minister

Government is actively looking for investors to take up the Marine Drive Project, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Abla Dzifa Gomashie has said.

The Minister disclosed this to journalists on Thursday, May 21, after appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee. She noted that the Ministry recently reconstituted the project’s implementation board to coordinate stakeholders and clear bottlenecks holding back progress.

Madam Gomashie said work on the long-delayed project should start soon. She explained that the anchor developer has already prepared a package for a roadshow to attract investors.

“On Monday, I saw the packaging by the anchor developer on how they are going to have a roadshow to get investors to come and invest in the place. Everything else, I think we have crossed all the T’s and dotted all the I’s. We just need people to express interest in it,” she said.

She added that the Ministry is waiting for investors to bring financing proposals so engagement can begin. The reconstituted board has reviewed the project and put together documentation to present to potential investors.

“The anchor developer will, as soon as possible, start the roadshow to bring in investors so the work can proceed,” she noted.

*“We are losing out”*

The Minister stressed the economic potential of coastal development, pointing to examples from other regions where waterfronts drive tourism and real estate growth.

“If you go to communities with waterfronts and coastal attractions, you see the level of development that has taken place. It is amazing. Especially in the Global North, many people prefer to retire or spend their leisure time by the sea, particularly in countries where such natural features are limited,” she said.

She described the project as a personal priority for her tenure.

“So we are losing out by not developing the Marine Drive. It is therefore my passion to ensure that, at least during my tenure as minister for the sector, we see progress and tangible work being done in that area,” she added.

The Marine Drive Project is envisioned as a major tourism and commercial enclave along Accra’s coastline but has faced years of delays over funding and implementation challenges.