Ho, Ghana Faces Critical Accommodation Shortage: Key Investment Opportunities to Meet Rising Tourism Demand in Volta Region

Published on December 8, 2025

The Volta Region, in southeastern Ghana, has long been recognised for its cultural heritage, breathtaking natural landscapes, and unique tourism assets. However, the region’s capital, Ho, has faced a persistent accommodation shortage during major events. As tourism continues to grow at a steady rate, local hospitality infrastructure is being pushed to its limits, highlighting a clear market gap and providing significant opportunities for investment.

Growing Tourism Demand and the Accommodation Shortage

During peak travel periods, hotels and guesthouses in Ho and surrounding areas experience near-immediate 100% occupancy, leaving many visitors without accommodation options. This overflow leads to hundreds of potential guests being redirected to nearby towns, such as Aflao, and beyond. The loss in potential revenue, estimated in millions of cedis, is a direct consequence of the region’s underdeveloped hotel infrastructure.

Tourism experts confirm that the limited availability of hotel rooms represents a significant barrier to the region’s potential. Despite being a key player in Ghana’s tourism sector, the Volta Region’s hospitality infrastructure cannot fully support the growing number of visitors attracted by events, festivals, and tourism-driven activities. As the region continues to receive more visitors each year, with over two million annual tourists and a 15% growth rate in tourism, it is evident that the current capacity is insufficient.

The Government’s Vision for Volta Region as a Tourism Hub

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has been vocal about the Volta Region’s future as a leading tourism destination. CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto, at the 2025 Volta Investment Summit, highlighted the area’s enormous potential. The region is home to a variety of tourism assets, including cultural heritage sites, natural wonders such as the Wli Falls and the Volta Estuary, and the scenic beauty of towns like Amedzofe.

The GTA has also identified key areas for development, including multi-hotel resort projects and eco-lodges, particularly at high-traffic sites like Amedzofe, Wli Falls, and the surrounding ecological areas. Government efforts are focused on promoting sustainable tourism while enhancing infrastructure to meet the demands of modern travelers. However, the region’s future success as a tourism hub hinges on expanding and upgrading its accommodation offerings.

Sustainable Investment for Year-Round Business

While the tourism industry in Ho experiences significant surges during peak travel months, sustainable investment in hospitality infrastructure requires a long-term strategy. The government and local authorities must ensure that the hospitality sector is not only built to accommodate short-term increases in demand but also designed for year-round business. To attract major investors, the region must provide assurances of consistent business through the year, which can be achieved through a combination of major events, conferences, and the promotion of educational and cultural tourism.

The key to sustaining investment lies in maintaining a steady flow of visitors throughout the year. Ho must become a destination for conferences, educational programmes, and cultural festivals to attract both leisure and business tourists. This will ensure that new investments in infrastructure are profitable throughout the year, reducing the impact of off-peak seasons.

Investment Opportunities in Eco-Lodges, Boutique Hotels, and Conference Centres

The investment potential for Ho and the wider Volta Region is undeniable. To fill the current accommodation gap, experts recommend a mix of eco-lodges, boutique hotels with conference facilities, and heritage tourism accommodations. The Ghana Tourism Information System, launched by the Ghana Tourism Authority, offers new tools for tourism licence verification, cashless booking platforms, and greater transparency in the tourism industry. These innovations will make the region more attractive to potential investors looking for sustainable opportunities.

Investors have an opportunity to build eco-friendly resorts and luxury boutique hotels, particularly in areas surrounding cultural landmarks and natural attractions. The demand for eco-lodges in particular is rising as travelers become more conscious of their environmental impact. Additionally, there is a growing interest in conference facilities that cater to business tourism and events. A modern, well-equipped convention centre could help position Ho as the regional administrative and innovation hub, ensuring a steady stream of business tourists and conference attendees year-round.

The Case for a Convention and Conference Centre in Ho

A major proposal that has garnered attention in recent investment analyses is the establishment of a convention and conference centre in Ho. The region lacks a dedicated facility for hosting large-scale events, and building one could significantly boost the local economy. Such a facility would not only support tourism and events but also establish Ho as a regional business hub. The associated high-standard boutique hotel capacity would provide the necessary accommodation to support business and event tourism.

The establishment of a convention centre would encourage the region to bid for national and international conferences, trade shows, and educational summits, thereby ensuring consistent demand for accommodation and services. This would flatten the demand curve, preventing the infrastructure from being overburdened during peak periods and underused during the off-season. A balanced calendar of events, combined with strategic investment in hospitality infrastructure, would guarantee that new hotels and resorts are not left idle for extended periods.

Transforming Ho into a Regional Hospitality Powerhouse

The future of Ho as a major regional hospitality destination is dependent on a multifaceted approach to tourism development. By addressing the accommodation shortage and investing in a consistent event calendar, the city can establish itself as a year-round destination for both business and leisure tourism. Ho has the potential to become a hospitality powerhouse that attracts both international tourists and investors by building modern hotels, eco-lodges and conference centres.

Local government, business leaders, and the private sector must work together to achieve success. With a clear vision for the future and a dedication to creating a dynamic, sustainable tourism environment, Ho can transition from simply meeting the demands of success to thriving as a regional tourism and hospitality leader.

By investing in infrastructure that caters to both tourists and business travellers, the Volta Region has the potential to become one of Ghana’s most appealing and prosperous tourism destinations. The current accommodation gap provides an ideal opportunity for investors to capitalise on rising tourism demand, ensuring that Ho remains a key player in the global tourism landscape for many years to come.