LAGOS  – The organisers of Accra Weizo Travel Expo, has stated that the sixth edition of the annual travel event would hold in Accra, Ghana on May 26, 2023, three years after it was last held.

A statement by Mr. Ikechi Uko, the organiser of the event said that the tourism expo was suspended for three years because of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted global economies between 2020 and 2022.

The statement hinted that the event like in the past would be jointly organised by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Akwaaba African Travel Market (AfTM).

The statement hinted that the 2023 edition would have a line-up of topics, together with selected experts and stakeholders in the tourism, travel and allied business sector to identify deliberate and proffer solutions to some of the barriers of seamless travel in West Africa.

According to Uko, the Balafon Awards, which was instituted in 2009 by the publishers of ATQNews to recognise individuals and organisations that had excelled in tourism and travel sector and contributed to the growth in West Africa would be held alongside awards for the Top 30 resorts in West Africa.

He stated that the past editions of Accra Weizo had in attendance lots of VIPs, including His Royal Highness, Nene Nagai Kassa VIII, Honourable Mike A. Gizo, Chief of Agomeda, and President of Shai Traditional.

Others were members of the diplomatic corps in Ghana, which included high commissioners and ambassadors, among whom were Lulu Xingwana, High Commissioner, South African High Commission in Accra – Ghana; Mr. Thomas Okyere, the Honorary Consul, Botswana Honorary Consulate in Accra – Ghana; Ambassador Pavelyn Tendai Musaka, Zimbabwe Embassy in Accra – Ghana and Mwansa S. Rowland, Deputy High Commissioner for Zambia High Commission in Accra-Ghana, among other dignitaries.

In 2017, the event hosted the awards for ‘Top 100 Tourism personalities in West Africa.”