President of the Events and Meetings Professionals Association of Ghana (EMPAG) – Mrs. Theresa Ayoade, who is also the CEO of Charterhouse Productions, has made a strong case for leveraging business tourism to increase visitor numbers, noting that initiatives such as ‘December In Gh’ and ‘Detty December’ have successfully positioned Ghana as a leisure hotspot, even if the country faces stiff competition from regional rivals like Nigeria.
“It’s important to come up with a sustainable formula to keep us going,” she sounded a caution, further adding, “If we are not intentional about it, we will lose it.”
Also known as MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), the importance of business tourism as the next growth layer in Ghana’s tourism ecosystem came up when the newly appointed CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mrs. Maame Efua Houadjeto, met with private sector stakeholders to familiarise herself with their concerns and share her vision for the growth of Ghana’s tourism sector.
Her first official engagement with the tourism trade since her appointment, Mrs. Houadjeto expressed her enthusiasm about working with a “positive and forward-looking” team of private sector stakeholders, and reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening Ghana’s tourism sector and ensuring the sustainability of existing initiatives like ‘December In Gh’ and ‘Detty December’.
“I will work harder to protect and retain what is ours,” she assured the stakeholders.
Touching on the government’s Black Star Experience initiative, she reassured industry players that it would serve as a catalyst for enhancing tourism and driving growth in the sector.
Reiterating GTA’s commitment to closely collaborating with private sector stakeholders whom she described as “the engine of the industry” to drive the growth of Ghana’s tourism sector, Mrs. Houadjeto emphasised sustainability and ecotourism as key priorities, aligning with the government’s broader Green Agenda. She underscored the role of sustainable tourism in fostering long-term growth, stating: “It’s a strategic point where sustainability can drive long-term growth”.
Taking place at the Accra Tourist Information Centre, there were representatives from over 20 trade associations under the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF), including the Tour Operators Union of Ghana, Car Rentals Association of Ghana, Chefs Association of Ghana, Tour Guides Association of Ghana, and the Tourism Society of Ghana. Other key stakeholders in attendance included the Hotels Association of Ghana, Events and Meetings Professionals Association of Ghana, Board of Airlines Ghana, and the Association of Tourist Sites and Attractions Ghana, among others.
Leveraging on Ghana as the Centre of the World
The newly appointed CEO of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC), Prof. Kobby Mensah, has emphasised the need for a strong promotional campaign to position Ghana as the “Centre of the World”, leveraging the country’s geographic location to attract global tourists.
According to him, the Centre of the World identity and brand is a trump card for building Ghana’s tourism, stressing that: “We have to drum it to the entire world that if you celebrate New Year’s Eve at the London Eye, we will do ours at the Centre of the world”.
He pledged to work closely with the GTA and private sector stakeholders to advance this branding initiative and drive tourism growth.
Prof. Mensah made the call when he joined newly appointed CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) as she met with private sector stakeholders to familiarise herself with their concerns and share her vision for the growth of Ghana’s tourism sector.
