The Vice President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has headlined the 2026 Vodza Easter Regatta, attracting hundreds of patrons, tourists, and residents to the coastal community of Vodza in the Volta Region.

She was accompanied by the Volta Regional Minister, Dzifa Gunu, and received on arrival by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, along with the Board Chair of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Gertrude Emefa Donkor, and other officials.

The annual Easter Regatta, a key event on Ghana’s tourism calendar, showcased the rich maritime traditions of the Vodza community through activities such as canoe racing, music, and cultural performances.

This year’s edition also marked the fifth anniversary of the event and, notably, the first time the Ghana Tourism Authority partnered with organisers to elevate its national profile.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang highlighted the importance of tourism as a driver of economic development and community empowerment.

She commended stakeholders for sustaining the Regatta, noting its role in preserving culture while creating jobs and supporting local livelihoods.

She stressed that events like the Vodza Easter Regatta go beyond celebration, serving as catalysts for economic opportunity and national identity, and called for continued investment in such initiatives.

In her remarks, Ms Gomashie reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening community-based tourism through strategic collaborations with the Ghana Tourism Authority and other partners, with the aim of positioning local festivals as globally competitive attractions.

Mrs Donkor also underscored the Authority’s focus on innovation, partnerships, and sustained investment in cultural events that reflect Ghana’s diverse heritage.

''The 2026 Vodza Easter Regatta forms part of broader efforts by the Ghana Tourism Authority to expand support for community-led festivals, in line with national strategies to boost domestic tourism and promote Ghana as a year-round destination'', she conlcuded.