South African Tourism used the prestige of the Accra Polo Independence Cup match on March 7 to advance a broader strategy of lifestyle-led diplomacy and high-value tourism engagement between Ghana and South Africa.

Held at the Accra Polo Club, the annual Independence fixture between the home side and the visiting Nairobi Polo Club attracted a select audience of diplomats, corporate leaders, creatives and cultural influencers, providing an ideal setting for relationship-building beyond formal boardrooms.

The South African delegation was led by the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa to Ghana, Mpshiri Setlhare, whose presence reflected the importance South Africa places on tourism as a tool for economic diplomacy.

She was joined by Thekiso Rakolojane, West Africa Regional Manager of South African Tourism, and Jeanette Moloto, Director of Global Sales for South and Sub-Saharan Africa at Marriott International.

The engagement also brought together key Ghanaian stakeholders at the intersection of tourism, culture and national branding.

Among them were Kofi Okyere Darko, Director at the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President of Ghana, and Rexford Owusu Marfo, popularly known as Rex Omar, Presidential Advisor at the Black Star Experience Secretariat.

For South African Tourism, polo has become a deliberate engagement platform – one that mirrors the destination’s premium positioning while offering access to Ghana’s high-net-worth individuals and corporate decision-makers who influence business travel, incentives and investment flows.

Rakolojane noted that such environments allow South Africa’s tourism story to be told organically, through shared experiences rather than formal presentations.

The lifestyle narrative was reinforced through a curated raffle moment that brought the destination to life. Ghanaian entrepreneur Harold Awuah‑Darko, founder of Polistas Hospitality, presented a South African travel experience designed to showcase both nature and urban energy.

The winning package includes four nights in Plettenberg Bay – widely regarded as the gateway to the Garden Route – followed by two nights in Johannesburg, jointly sponsored by South African Tourism and Polistas Hospitality.

Beyond the prize itself, the moment illustrated how experiential storytelling can translate aspiration into action, allowing potential travellers to visualise South Africa not simply as a destination, but as an experience.

South African Tourism has partnered with the Accra Polo Club for several years, leveraging the club’s influence and networks to build long-term relationships that support tourism growth, business exchange and cultural connection.

As Independence celebrations unfolded, the engagement reinforced a clear message – in today’s tourism landscape, destinations win not just through promotion, but through presence, partnerships and shared moments that resonate long after the final whistle.