The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Federation, has unveiled a sweeping strategic intervention aimed at transforming Ghana’s tourism sector, strengthening workforce capacity, and addressing youth unemployment.
At a high-level engagement in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of the GTA, Maame Afua Houadjato, launched the Graduate Tourism Employment and Mobility Support (GTEM) Programme—an action-oriented initiative designed to equip young graduates with practical skills while addressing key operational challenges in the sector.
Under the programme, 200 graduates will be trained and certified as professional tour guides and deployed across hotels, tour companies, cultural sites, and events nationwide. A key component of the initiative is a structured work-and-pay mobility scheme, which will provide vehicles to guides and small operators without upfront costs, helping to resolve transportation and logistical constraints.
“This is not theory. We are moving from conversation to implementation,” Madam Houadjato stated, emphasizing that effective collaboration between government, the private sector, and young professionals is critical to unlocking Ghana’s tourism potential.
The GTEM Programme will also extend support to small tourism businesses and startups that lack operational capacity, while promoting sustainability through partnerships with financial institutions. These partnerships are expected to enable hospitality operators to adopt clean energy solutions such as solar and biogas, reducing operational costs and improving competitiveness.
In a complementary move, the Ghana Tourism Federation, led by its President, Seth Ocran, announced a National Professional Training and Certification Policy Framework to standardize skills development and improve service delivery across the sector.
Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment and academic institutions, the framework introduces flexible learning models, installment-based payment options, and a training access fund to ensure accessibility for frontline workers.
The Federation also launched the “Uplifting Women in Tourism Youth Programme,” a flagship initiative backed by more than 30 partner institutions. The programme is aimed at empowering women and youth by addressing gaps in digital tools, energy access, enterprise development, and industry recognition.
President Ocran reiterated the Federation’s target of increasing tourism’s contribution to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product from 5.7 percent to 10 percent by 2030, stressing the importance of strong institutional partnerships and workforce development.
He further called on trade associations, academic partners, and industry stakeholders to implement the new framework with diligence and excellence to position Ghana as a leading tourism destination in the region.
The coordinated initiatives by the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Ghana Tourism Federation signal a renewed national drive to professionalize the sector, enhance service standards, and unlock broader economic benefits through tourism.
New members selected to oversee the initiative were later sworn in by Drolor Bosso Adamtey I, Paramount King of the Se Shai Traditional Area and a member of the Council of State.
He urged them to work together to achieve the targets set for them and ensure that the tourism industry continues to grow and support the national economy.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
