Emmanuel Dornyoh

Cape Coast, Ghana, has substantial heritage, coastal, cultural and educational assets, yet visitor activity remains concentrated at Cape Coast Castle, where recorded visits rose from 101,134 in 2023 to 141,523 in 2025. This study examines how these assets are governed and where the links between them break down. A qualitative, multi-source design combined policy documents, in-depth interviews with 26 tourists, a tourism resource assessment, and an exploratory review of the city's sister cities (Bonn, Little Rock and New Orleans). Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, and draft findings were discussed with 32 stakeholders at a consultative workshop. Eight recurring gaps emerged, including weak institutional coordination, limited visitor services and information, narrow product diversification, and limited community participation. Read through Arnstein's ladder of participation, residents and small businesses appear mainly as consultees rather than shared decision-makers, a pattern termed policy invisibility. The findings are perceptual and non-generalizable, and the sister-city material offers ideas rather than transferable models. A phased, indicative framework aligned with the Eight-Year Development Plan (2026–2033) is proposed, pending baseline measurement. The paper argues that Cape Coast's central task is coordination across institutions and districts rather than adding attractions.

Africa’s expanding pharmaceutical sovereignty agenda depends not only on increased vaccine production capacity but also on international confidence in vaccines manufactured on the continent. This study examined how country-of-origin perceptions and consumer ethnocentrism influence international tourists’ willingness to accept Africa-made vaccines in Ghana. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 120 international tourists from 32 countries, with the largest proportions originating from the United States, Germany, Spain, and Canada. Validated Likert-scale measures were used to assess product beliefs, behavioural intentions, and consumer ethnocentrism. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, and Mann–Whitney U tests. Respondents demonstrated modest beliefs regarding the effectiveness, safety, and trustworthiness of Africa-made vaccines, with a mean product-belief score of 2.76. Nevertheless, behavioural intention was moderately positive, with a mean score of 3.35. Contrary to conventional country-of-origin theory, product beliefs were negatively associated with behavioural intentions (r = −0.338, p < 0.001), suggesting that reservations about product quality did not necessarily reduce willingness to accept Africa-made vaccines. Consumer ethnocentrism was also negatively associated with behavioural intentions (r = −0.223, p = 0.016). Moreover, 40.8% of respondents preferred Africa-made vaccines despite concerns about selected product attributes. These findings indicate that health necessity, regulatory confidence, ethical support for African pharmaceutical development, practical accessibility, and effective trust-building communication may outweigh product scepticism. The study extends country-of-origin and health tourism literature by demonstrating that pharmaceutical acceptance within destination health contexts may follow pathways that differ from those associated with ordinary consumer goods and post-pandemic tourist decision-making among diverse groups of travellers.

Cape Coast is a prominent tourism destination in Ghana, distinguished by its historical landmarks, coastal ecosystems, and cultural heritage. Yet the city faces mounting threats from environmental hazards such as coastal erosion, flooding, extreme heat, and lagoon degradation, which directly compromise the sustainability of its tourism sector. Guided by the Sustainable Tourism Development Theory (STDT) and the Tourism Resilience and Adaptation Theory (TRAT), this study investigates the impacts of these hazards on tourism development, the effectiveness of current disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies, and the roles of key stakeholders in building sectoral resilience. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through in-depth interviews with eighteen stakeholders comprising four policymakers, six community leaders, five tourism business operators, and three representatives from non-governmental organisations, alongside documentary analysis of four institutional reports. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that fragmented, reactive DRR strategies and weak stakeholder coordination undermine Cape Coast’s tourism resilience, and by showing how urban natural assets, a dimension largely neglected in existing tourism–DRR scholarship, are central to both hazard exposure and adaptive capacity. The findings call for integrated, ecosystem-based DRR frameworks that align governance mechanisms with sustainable tourism imperatives.

Cape Coast is a prominent tourism destination in Ghana, distinguished by its historical landmarks, coastal ecosystems, and cultural heritage. Yet the city faces mounting threats from environmental hazards such as coastal erosion, flooding, extreme heat, and lagoon degradation, which directly compromise the sustainability of its tourism sector. Guided by the Sustainable Tourism Development Theory (STDT) and the Tourism Resilience and Adaptation Theory (TRAT), this study investigates the impacts of these hazards on tourism development, the effectiveness of current disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies, and the roles of key stakeholders in building sectoral resilience. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through in-depth interviews with eighteen stakeholders comprising four policymakers, six community leaders, five tourism business operators, and three representatives from non-governmental organisations, alongside documentary analysis of four institutional reports. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that fragmented, reactive DRR strategies and weak stakeholder coordination undermine Cape Coast’s tourism resilience, and by showing how urban natural assets, a dimension largely neglected in existing tourism-DRR scholarship, are central to both hazard exposure and adaptive capacity. The findings call for integrated, ecosystem-based DRR frameworks that align governance mechanisms with sustainable tourism imperatives.

This study examined revenue management practices, their effectiveness in optimizing revenue streams, the impact of emerging technologies, and the challenges faced by hotels in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Through qualitative interviews with ten hotel managers, key insights were uncovered regarding dynamic pricing, inventory control, market segmentation, and targeted promotions. For instance, hotels adjust room rates based on real-time demand, increasing prices during peak seasons and offering discounts in low-demand periods. Targeted promotions, such as corporate travel packages and repeat guest discounts, were also common strategies to enhance customer retention. Despite these strategies, challenges persist, including fluctuating market demand, ensuring rate parity across distribution channels, and internal limitations such as inadequate staff training and resource constraints. Managers reported difficulties in maintaining consistent pricing across online travel agencies (OTAs) and direct booking platforms, which sometimes led to booking leakages and customer dissatisfaction. Additionally, balancing revenue optimization with guest satisfaction remained a key concern. The integration of emerging technologies, such as AI-driven pricing models, predictive analytics, and automated revenue management systems, has provided hotels with a competitive edge. Some hotels have adopted AI-powered forecasting tools to predict demand, enabling optimal pricing decisions, while others utilize automated revenue management software to dynamically adjust inventory distribution. The study recommends that hotels invest in sophisticated revenue management software and advanced analytics tools to improve forecasting accuracy. Continuous staff training in data interpretation, market research, and AI applications should also be prioritized to enhance decision-making and optimize revenue management strategies.

This study investigates how beach development in Cape Coast, Ghana, shapes both local economic outcomes and coastal environmental conditions. Anchored in sustainable tourism development theory, the study evaluates the extent to which tourism-driven coastal transformations balance economic growth, environmental protection, and community benefits. A qualitative exploratory design was used, with purposive sampling applied to select thirty-two respondents, including managers, employees, and city officials. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews complemented by field observations. The findings indicate that beach development has generated meaningful economic benefits, particularly through employment creation and increased demand for local goods and services. Environmentally, several operators have adopted sustainable practices such as replanting coconut trees, introducing energy-efficient lighting, reducing single-use plastics, and integrating natural ventilation into facility design. These efforts have contributed to cleaner beach environments and improved visitor experiences. Nonetheless, substantial challenges remain. Financial limitations undermine consistent infrastructure upgrades and environmental management, while inadequate sanitation and waste collection systems contribute to persistent littering along the coastline. Weak regulatory enforcement by the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly further allows irregular development and poor waste disposal to persist. The study concludes that, although beach development is contributing positively to both economic and environmental conditions, its long-term sustainability depends on strengthened financial investment, improved waste management systems, and more consistent enforcement of coastal regulations. The insights generated may inform broader efforts to promote environmentally responsible coastal tourism in similar African settings.

Background International tourism can facilitate disease spread across borders but also foster health and wellness through economic and social development. Ghana’s expanding tourism sector, supported by government initiatives and rich cultural and natural assets, intersects with public health challenges ranging from endemic infections (malaria, cholera) to emerging threats (COVID-19, dengue). Objective To critically review the evidence on tourism’s dual role in Ghana’s public health, characterising tourism as both a vector of disease and a promoter of health, and to synthesise findings in line with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Methods A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and grey literature (2018–2025) was conducted for studies addressing tourism and health in Ghana and comparable contexts. Inclusion criteria encompassed quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research on tourism-related mobility, infectious disease transmission, wellness tourism, and health infrastructure. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened by two reviewers, and data on study characteristics and outcomes were extracted. Study quality was assessed using established checklists (e.g., JBI, CASP). Findings were synthesised narratively using thematic analysis. Results The review identified 20 studies meeting the inclusion criteria (Fig. 1, PRISMA flow). The literature broadly fell into two thematic domains: (1) Tourism as a vector of disease, evidence that travel (including tourism) to and from Ghana can introduce or amplify infectious diseases (e.g. importation of COVID-19, malaria, and potentially cholera/dengue), especially given gaps in surveillance and health infrastructure; and (2) Tourism as a catalyst for public health promotion – examples of wellness and medical tourism, economic investments in healthcare linked to tourism growth, and increased public health awareness. In Ghana, endemic conditions (high malaria burden, periodic cholera outbreaks) and socio-economic disparities modulate these dynamics. Cross-cutting issues such as health equity, ethical resource allocation in medical tourism, and climate impacts were noted. Conclusions Tourism in Ghana is double-edged: it contributes to economic development and health sector strengthening, yet also poses disease risks via increased mobility. Policymakers and health authorities must balance these aspects by enhancing disease surveillance and travel health measures, while harnessing tourism’s health-promoting potential (e.g. domestic wellness tourism, medical travel). Gaps include a paucity of Ghana-specific epidemiological studies on tourism-related transmission. Future research should quantify travel-associated disease burden and evaluate interventions (e.g. traveller screening, destination health promotion).