By Jones Anlimah
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang joined hundreds of patrons at Vodza in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region for the 2026 edition of the Vodza Regatta Festival, an event that attracted high-level participation and renewed calls to position the area as a key tourism destination.
The festival, now in its fifth year, brought together government officials, tourism stakeholders, residents, and visitors from across the country, highlighting its growing importance on Ghana’s cultural calendar.
In a brief remark, the Vice President expressed appreciation for public support and called for stronger collaboration in national development.
“We want to work with you, we want to plan with you, we want to succeed with you,” she said.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, underscored government’s commitment to promoting tourism products in the Volta Region, noting that the regatta forms part of a broader strategy to increase visibility of local attractions.
“What Ghana does not lack is the talent of people… what we lack is the visibility. If we work together, we will bring our energies together and ensure that talent is developed for the benefit of the whole country,” she stated.
The Minister added that government’s support for the festival demonstrates its significance in developing the tourism sector.
“My being here… is government. What can be bigger than this?” she remarked.
A Council Member of the Vodza Eco-Tourism Initiative, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, explained that the festival was introduced to create economic opportunities while promoting the area.
“We started this… to attract people to the area and to think of ways to alleviate poverty by creating job opportunities,” she said.
She noted that the festival has expanded beyond canoe racing to include swimming competitions, food exhibitions, cultural performances, and health outreach programmes.
“It’s not just about the regatta, it’s about a series of activities… a holistic programme to contribute to the community,” she explained.
Organisers say the event also serves as a platform to showcase the tourism potential of Vodza, including its unique coastal landscape and surrounding islands.
“We want to put Vodza on the map so that people consider it,” Professor Gadzekpo added, while calling on investors to explore opportunities in the area.
This year’s celebration featured cultural displays, food festivals, island tours, and musical performances, drawing significant patronage and reinforcing the festival’s role in promoting community-based tourism.
The Ghana Tourism Authority, along with other partners, supported the event as part of efforts to develop and diversify Ghana’s tourism sector.
