Cape Coast, Oct. 23, 2025 — The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has emphasized the power of positive guest experiences in promoting Ghana’s hospitality industry, stating that “word of mouth goes further than the adverts we place in the media.”
She made the remark when she graced the 50th Anniversary Symposium of the Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) held at the Ridge Royal Hotel in Cape Coast under the theme “50 Years of Advocacy, Perseverance, and Impacting Ghana’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry.”
Hon. Gomashie commended the Association for its enduring contribution to Ghana’s tourism growth, describing its 50-year journey as a testament to “vision, resilience, partnership, and values.” She lauded the GHA for serving as a bridge between government, regulators, and operators, helping to shape policies, improve service standards, and sustain the sector through economic and global challenges.
According to her, the hospitality industry remains the “backbone of Ghana’s tourism ecosystem,” providing not just rooms but experiences that form the first and last impressions of visitors to the country. She reaffirmed government’s commitment to partner with the private sector to build a resilient and competitive tourism and hospitality industry.
The Minister outlined several initiatives being undertaken by her Ministry, including a review of the National Tourism Policy, hospitality training and certification programmes, investment incentive reviews through the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), and destination infrastructure improvement projects.
She further urged hoteliers to embrace innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation, highlighting the importance of eco-friendly practices, renewable energy adoption, and inclusive growth that empowers women, youth, and local communities.
Hon. Gomashie praised the founding members and past executives of the Association for their foresight, while commending the current leadership led by Dr. Edward Ackah-Nyamike Jnr for keeping the GHA vibrant and relevant. She called for stronger collaboration between the Ministry and the Association to make Ghana a beacon of African hospitality through the Black Star Experience initiative.
Earlier, the President of the Ghana Hotels Association, Dr. Edward Ackah-Nyamike Jnr, appealed to the Minister to support the establishment of a dedicated tourism and hospitality training school capable of training all sector workers annually. He also called for the compulsory membership of all hotels in the Association, transparency in the management of the Ghana Tourism Fund, and regular public-private sector engagements to discuss industry issues.
The Anniversary Committee Chairperson, Mrs. Juliette Taylor, in her presentation, recounted the Association’s journey of perseverance and commitment to corporate social responsibility. She noted that the anniversary celebrations began with a series of activities including a media launch, health walk, and donation to the Tema General Hospital.
Representing the Omanhene of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Nana ObIri Eduama urged hoteliers to seek professional guidance and continuously build staff capacity to improve service quality and enhance the fortunes of the industry.
The event brought together industry stakeholders, traditional authorities, government representatives, and hospitality practitioners to celebrate five decades of advocacy and excellence in Ghana’s hospitality sector.
Source: Delassie Mabel Awuku-PR Unit- MoTCCA
