Ghana is set to welcome Jamaican tourism entrepreneur Roy Page, Chief Executive Officer of Asterix Tourism Services Limited, Chairman of the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network (CCTN) – Villages as Businesses (VAB), and Co-Founder of the Know Thyself Africa–Caribbean Connectivity Initiative, alongside Senior Architect Jason Stone, for a strategic working visit from 13 to 25 October 2026.
The visit will focus on advancing community-based tourism, strengthening Africa–Caribbean cultural and economic connections, and exploring sustainable development opportunities for traditional and rural communities.
Prince Ambassador Dr Tengol K.Kplemani, Ambassador for Africa for the CountrystyleCommunity Tourism Network and its Villages as Businesses (VAB) initiative, will receive the delegation and is spearheading a series of engagements aimed at translating the shared vision of community empowerment into practical development programmes across Ghana and, ultimately, Africa.
The visit represents an important opportunity to deepen cooperation between African and Caribbean stakeholders through tourism, heritage preservation, traditional governance, investment, trade, entrepreneurship and cultural diplomacy.
Royal Community Tourism Development Initiative: Positioning Communities as Economic Hubs
A central focus of the visit will be the Royal Community Tourism Development Initiative, also known as the Royal Community Tourism Development Programme (ROCOM), initiated by Prince Ambassador Dr Tengol K. KKplemani under the framework of CCTN/VAB, with the Sister Kingdom Network (SKN) and AsterixTourism Services Limited serving as strategic champions and partners.
The initiative is founded on the recognition that Africa’s traditional communities, kingdoms, chiefdoms and royal institutions remain important custodians of the continent’s cultural identity, history, indigenous knowledge and living heritage. These communities possess valuable cultural assets that, when properly developed and managed, can become sustainable tourism destinations and engines of local economic growth.
ROCOM seeks to help communities transform their heritage, traditions, historical sites, cultural practices, indigenous knowledge, and local enterprise opportunities into structured tourism experiences that create employment, stimulate entrepreneurship, and attract investment.
Paga, in Ghana’s Upper East Region, has been identified as the pilot community for the initiative. The initial engagement will explore the community’s tourism potential, development needs, infrastructure opportunities, heritage assets and possible partnerships to establish a practical model for sustainable, community-led tourism development.
Asterix Tourism Services Limited will contribute its tourism development, destination marketing and travel management experience to support the creation and international promotion of community-based tourism experiences, particularly those connecting Ghana and the wider African continent with Jamaica, the Caribbean and the African diaspora.
Following the pilot phase, the broader vision is to expand the initiative across Ghana and subsequently to other African communities, working with traditional authorities, public institutions, tourism stakeholders, development partners and the private sector.
The participation of Senior Architect Jason Stone will provide an opportunity to explore the built environment, spatial planning, heritage-sensitive development and infrastructure considerations that can support the long-term transformation of selected communities into viable tourism destinations.
The initiative also aims to strengthen local value chains, create sustainable livelihoods, develop community-based entrepreneurs and ensure that the people who preserve Africa’s heritage are active participants in, and beneficiaries of, its economic value.
Know Thyself: Building a Stronger Africa–Caribbean Bridge
Another major area of engagement will be the Know Thyself Africa–Caribbean Connectivity Initiative, co-founded by Roy Page and Prince Ambassador Dr Tengol K. Kplemani.
The initiative seeks to strengthen connections between Africa and the Caribbean by encouraging both regions to rediscover their shared histories, understand their cultural identities and explore opportunities for meaningful collaboration.
Its underlying philosophy is that sustainable partnerships begin with mutual understanding. Before fully exploring the economic opportunities between Africa and the Caribbean, there is a need to deepen awareness of the historical experiences, cultural traditions, identities and connections that bind their peoples together.
Through structured conversations, cultural exchanges, tourism initiatives and stakeholder engagements, the initiative will explore opportunities in:
* Historical and cultural reconnection between African and Caribbean communities.
* Tourism cooperation and the development of heritage-based travel experiences.
* Trade, investment and business partnerships.
* Youth, community and knowledge exchanges.
* Cultural diplomacy and the preservation of shared heritage.
* New opportunities for entrepreneurship,
enterprise development and economic cooperation.
Roy Page’s involvement brings a Caribbean tourism perspective to the initiative, supporting efforts to establish a practical bridge through which Africans and Caribbean people can strengthen their relationships and develop opportunities for mutual benefit.
Royal Roots Heritage Experience: Reconnecting the Diaspora with African Traditional Institutions
The visit will also advance discussions around the Royal Roots Heritage Experience, an initiative championed through the Sister Kingdom Network in collaboration with relevant traditional authorities and tourism partners.
The programme is envisioned as a distinctive heritage experience for Africans in the diaspora and other visitors seeking a deeper understanding of Africa’s traditional governance systems, kingdoms, chiefdoms, royal institutions and cultural identities.
Beyond conventional tourism, the Royal Roots Heritage Experience seeks to create opportunities for visitors to engage meaningfully with traditional authorities, learn about royal histories and community structures, explore ancestral connections, and gain a deeper appreciation of the institutions that have preserved African heritage across generations.
The initiative also seeks to create a pathway for diaspora communities to reconnect with their cultural roots and build lasting relationships with African communities through heritage tourism, cultural exchange and community engagement.
As part of the visit, engagements with traditional authorities, chiefs and representatives of African kingdoms and chiefdoms will be explored to strengthen understanding of the traditional systems that continue to shape community identity, leadership and cultural continuity.
The Sister Kingdom Network, founded to foster cooperation among African and diaspora kingdoms, chiefdoms, stools, clans and royal houses, will contribute to this engagement by supporting connections between traditional institutions and opportunities for cultural, social, spiritual and economic cooperation.
Engagement with Government, Traditional Authorities and Development Partners
During their stay in Ghana, Roy Page and Senior Architect Jason Stone are expected to participate in engagements with relevant government authorities, tourism institutions, traditional leaders, community representatives and potential development partners.
These engagements will explore possible areas of collaboration, including community tourism planning, heritage preservation, destination development, infrastructure considerations, investment mobilisation, capacity development and sustainable local enterprise.
The visit will also provide an opportunity to document and amplify the work being undertaken through these initiatives, bringing greater visibility to the tourism potential of Ghanaian communities and helping attract the partnerships, technical expertise and resources required for their development.
The broader objective is to establish a collaborative framework through which traditional communities can be positioned not merely as cultural attractions, but as active participants in tourism-led economic transformation.
A Shared Vision for Community Empowerment and Economic Sovereignty
Speaking ahead of the visit, Prince Ambassador Dr Tengol K. Kplemani emphasised the importance of placing traditional communities at the centre of Africa’s heritage and tourism development agenda.
“Our communities are the living homes of our heritage. Our kingdoms, chiefdoms, traditions and indigenous knowledge systems are not simply reminders of our past; they are assets that can help shape our economic future.
Through the Royal Community Tourism Development Initiative, we seek to build a model in which communities preserve their identity, develop their tourism potential, create sustainable jobs and become active drivers of their own economic transformation.
“Equally important is our relationship with the Caribbean and the wider African diaspora. We must know ourselves, understand our shared histories and build practical bridges that translate our cultural connections into tourism, trade, investment and opportunities for our people. This visit is an opportunity to move from shared vision to meaningful collaboration.”
The visit is expected to contribute to the development of practical next steps for the pilot community in Paga, strengthen collaboration between CCTN/VAB, IIPT, Asterix Tourism Services Limited and the Sister Kingdom Network, and advance discussions on the Royal Roots Heritage Experience and the Know Thyself Africa–Caribbean Connectivity Initiative
About the Key Organisations and Initiatives
Countrystyle Community Tourism Network (CCTN) / Villages as Businesses (VAB)
CCTN/VAB promotes community-centredtourism approaches that position local communities as active participants in tourism development and help create economic opportunities through their cultural, natural and heritage assets.
Sister Kingdom Network (SKN)
The Sister Kingdom Network is an initiative connecting African and diaspora kingdoms, chiefdoms, royal houses, stools and clans to advance cultural cooperation, heritage preservation, community partnerships and economic integration.
Asterix Tourism Services Limited
Asterix Tourism Services Limited is a Jamaica-based tourism and destination management company specialising in cultural, heritage and community-based tourism. The company promotes authentic travel experiences, sustainable community development, tourism partnerships, cultural exchanges and economic opportunities between Africa, the Caribbean and the global African diaspora.
Royal Community Tourism Development Initiative (ROCOM)
ROCOM seeks to develop rural and traditional communities into sustainable tourism destinations and local economic hubs by building on their heritage, cultural assets, community knowledge and entrepreneurial potential.
Know Thyself Africa–Caribbean Connectivity Initiative
Co-founded by Roy Page and Prince Ambassador Dr Tengol K. Kplemani, this initiative seeks to strengthen Africa–Caribbean relations through cultural understanding, historical reconnection, tourism, trade, investment and people-to-people collaboration.
Royal Roots Heritage Experience
The Royal Roots Heritage Experience is envisioned as a heritage-based tourism experience that connects diaspora visitors and other interested travellers with African traditional institutions, royal histories, cultural identity and community life.
Looking Ahead
The October visit signals a shared commitment to exploring practical ways of connecting Africa’s cultural wealth with sustainable tourism development and stronger international partnerships.
From Paga to communities across Ghana and the wider African continent, the long-term ambition is to help build a community tourism model that preserves heritage, empowers local people, creates sustainable livelihoods and strengthens Africa’s cultural and economic connections with the Caribbean and its global diaspora.
ROCOM — Building Tourism from the Community, Through the Community, for the Community.
END
Media and Further Information
Prince Ambassador Dr Tengol K. Kplemani
Ambassador for Africa, CountrystyleCommunity Tourism Network (CCTN) / Villages as Businesses (VAB)
+233244349954
tengolkk5@gmail.com
Note: This release announces the planned visit and proposed areas of engagement. Specific meetings, institutional partnerships and programme activities will be confirmed as arrangements are finalised.
