By IkechiUko
Dr . Kwabena Adjei-Founder of Kasapreko, makers of the fast selling Alomo bitters drink will be among the 20 West Africans that will be honored at the 2015 Accra Weizo event.
This list includes the likes of popular Publisher of Ghana based Celebrity magazine Ovation, former Presidential candidate in Nigeria Dele Momodu , Mustapha TAF Njie a Gambian real estate developer with footprints all over West Africa, Theo Akatugba a Ghana based Nigerian movie maker providing linkages across borders. 
These 20 people are just pathfinders and Trans border investors that show the path of integration in West Africa with a population bigger than USA and EU but with no economy to show for its size and diversity.
Some of the other award winners are Otunba Wanle Akinboboye-CEO, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, ( Tourism Man of the Year-Nigeria) Sir, Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide-Chaiman, Arik Air (Aviation Personality of the Year –West-Africa), Dr. Kwabena Adjei-Founder Kasapreko (West African Personality of the Year) Mr.Adeseyi Sijuade-MD, Nigeria Railway Corporation( Travel Personality of the Year-Nigeria) and the Honourable Minister of Tourism & creative Arts for Ghana Mrs . Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare as the Tourism person of the year West Africa.
These individuals were selected by
Atqnews.com from a list of 100 Top Travel Personalities in West-Africa based on their impact, legacy and influence in Tourism Promotions, Aviation, Hospitality, Conservation, Transport and Travel Business.
Accra Weizo, 2015 taking place on the 3rd of July at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel Accra seeks to bring to fruition the dreams of former DG of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency, NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren who said in Abuja at the Bantaba event 2012 while receiving the award of Travel Personality of the year that West Africa should be single domestic Aviation Environment integrating, Safety regulations, Airline connections and airports.
Dr. Demuren has since left NCAA but his vision for the seamless integration is still far from reality.
This vision of a seamless travel experience is the main focus of a one day travel event slated for the 3rd of July at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana. The event is to be hosted by the Honourable Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Ghana, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare.
With the theme “Seamless Travel in West Africa” Weizo is targeted at the founding vision of ECOWAS to create a region of one people integrating and growing together. It is coming as ECOWAS celebrates 40 years of existence.
With a population of close to 300 million people in 15 countries and a fast growing economic block, West Africa started the regional integration race in Africa since the 1970s but has since lagged behind East and Southern Africa.
With over 40 airports the economy of the region can sustain a viable Travel and Tourism industry.
Weizo seeks to bring Travel professionals together to share knowledge and work out a future path of success for the region.
The special adviser to the UNWTO Secretary General, Mrs Rosette Chantal Rugamba will deliver a keynote paper titled “Regional Blocks as Tourism Destinations”.
Rosette started the tourism projects of country Rwanda including the famous Gorilla naming ceremony “KwitaIzina”.
The Aviation session will have two presentations one by AdefunkeAdeyemi, Head, IATA for Africa and the Middle East “Intra Africa Air Connectivity, the Facts Challenges and Benefits” and the second paper will be on “Passenger Friendliness and Airport Infrastructure in West Africa” by the Mr. Charles Kwame Asare-MD Ghana Airports Company Limited
The Aviation presentation will be treated by a panel made up of Airline CEOs, Aviation heads and Airport managers from across West Africa.
Other speakers at the event will include, Head HRG and GSA for Delta Airlines in Nigeria, Mr Femi Adefope a well-respected Travel expert and he will speak on “Trans-border Investment in Travel Business,” Mr Frank Nneji, MD ABC Transport, Nigeria will speak on “Doing Business across West Africa”.
The other paper to be presented at the event will be on the ‘Role of the Private Sector in Regional Integration”
Accra Weizo will bring together over 150 major players in travel and tourism in West Africa and will also honour 20 outstanding Travel Personalities for their roles in building Trade across the Sub-Region. It will also feature an exhibition of travel products.
The event is in partnership with the Ghana ministry of Tourism, backed by Tour Operators Union (TOUGHA), National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA),Nigerian Association of Tour Operators( NATOP), IATA, GCAA and will feature private tours to Accra and Cape-Coast on the 2nd day
Weizo is an event put together by the organizers of Akwaaba; African Market, Lagos-the only International Travel Fair in West Africa recognized by UNWTO and Abuja Bantaba, Abuja-Nigeria.
AWA Africa World Airlines is the Official Airline for Weizo. Africa World Airlines is adjugded “Domestic Airline of the Year” by the Ghana Tourism Awards and is Ghana’s fastest growing regional airline commanding a sizeable share of the domestic traffic and operate flights between Accra and Lagos. It has also offered chartered services for renowned world leaders including the President of Liberia.
