Maame Efua Houadjeto, Chief Executive Officer of the GTA
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has inaugurated a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Department to foster sustainable and impactful collaboration between the public and private sectors within the tourism industry.
The new department, unveiled on Monday, May 12, 2025, is guided by Section 42 of the Tourism Act, 2011 (Act 817), and seeks to institutionalise the Public-Private Partnership Forum as a platform for co-planning, co-investing, and co-implementing tourism initiatives.
Maame Efua Houadjeto, the Chief Executive Officer of the GTA, described the move as a recognition of the importance of shared vision, innovation, and strategic investment in driving the growth of Ghana’s tourism sector.
“This initiative goes beyond policy. It is about building a framework that enables seamless collaboration with stakeholders, supports joint ventures in infrastructure development, encourages product innovation, and strengthens destination marketing,” she said.
She noted that the department would help bridge gaps in trust, coordination, and policy alignment, thereby enhancing the efficiency and responsiveness of tourism development.
Mrs Houadjeto emphasised that the expertise and investment of the private sector remained vital in shaping tourism policy and accelerating progress.
“Ghana is ready for business – whether in accommodation, travel, ecotourism, heritage promotion, or digital tourism solutions,” she said, adding that the public sector must act as facilitators, not gatekeepers, to create an enabling regulatory environment that empowered businesses and aligned with global tourism standards.
“As we embark on this journey, let us shift from transactional partnerships to transformational ones – elevating brand Ghana, creating decent jobs, and reinforcing Ghana’s position as the heart of West African tourism,” she added.
As part of the ceremony, the CEO officially introduced Mr Jones Aruna Nelson as the Head of the PPP Department, and Mr Bright Asempa Tsadidey as Head of Corporate Affairs.
Mr Nelson, in his remarks, said the creation of the department marked a significant milestone in efforts to build a dynamic and inclusive tourism sector in Ghana.
“This is a bold step towards harnessing the collective strengths of government and private enterprises in building a thriving tourism industry, as enshrined in Section 42 of the Tourism Act,” he said.
He highlighted key focus areas under the new framework, including ‘The Black Star Experience’, which showcases Ghana’s heritage to the global community, and the “Resetting Agenda,” aimed at reimagining Ghana’s tourism strategies for sustainable impact.
He invited both local and international investors to partner with the Authority in reshaping Ghana’s tourism future.
“Let us work together to strengthen Ghana’s global tourism identity. The doors of the GTA remain open to visionary partners eager to make an impact,” he said.
Mr Tsadidey described his appointment as both a personal milestone and a renewed commitment to innovation and service.
He said his focus would include enhancing public education and awareness, strengthening the Authority’s communication framework, and fostering closer collaboration with the media, stakeholders, and tourism industry players.
He pledged to champion a unified and dynamic tourism identity for Ghana.
