The Ghana Tourism Authority is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to make Ghana the hub and the hotbed of tourism as it is once again taking part in the ongoing 6th Ecowas trade fair in the Togolese capital of Lome. Ghana’s participation in the fair is coordinated by the Ministry of Trade and Industries with funding from the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) and seeks to export and market Ghanaian products and services to the West African sub region. Other government Agencies, Departments and Ministries taking part in this fair are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Ghana Trade Fair Company, Export Development and Investment Fund, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Association of Ghana Industries and the Ghana Free Zones Board. The fair comes after an impressive showing at the just ended World Travel Market 2011, in Excel, London where participants thronged the Ghana Stand to familiarize themselves with the country’s tourism resources and had a special moment with Black Stars and Al-hin striker Asamoah Gyan. The Authority hopes to use this platform to market Ghana’s tourist products to the sub region and also attract foreign investors in the tourism industry to the country. The GTA also wants to use this opportunity to sustain Francophone countries’ interest in Ghana’s tourism and encourage more Anglophone visitors from the region to also visit Ghana. The 6th ECOWAS Trade Fair, will give participating countries the regional platform to explore West Africa’s market of about 300 million consumers. The 17-day fair, which begun on 25th November 2011, will be held alongside the 9th Lome International Trade Fair, a special arrangement between the ECOWAS Commission and the Government of Togo, due to the inability of Cote d’Ivoire to host the fair in 2010 as earlier planned. As with previous fairs, the 2011Ecowas Trade Fair seeks to promote economic integration and trade among citizens in Member States, especially industrialists, investors, manufacturers, commercial operators and buyers. It will feature products and services originating in the region, including industrial products, animal husbandry and fishing, minerals, cottage industries, textiles and services in various sectors. The trade fair will also afford participants the opportunity to take part in conferences, seminars and workshops on various themes related to the overall objective of the fair. In addition, participants would be able to exhibit their products and services and meet other professionals with the prospect of concluding business deals that would promote trade and help improve the living standards of citizens within the Ecowas community. Previously held every four years, the ECOWAS Trade Fair is now a biennial event.