Akwasi Agyeman (middle) handing over to Otto Langmane, acting Chief Director, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. With them are some Directors of the Ministry and GTA

Ghana Tourism Authority CEO resigns, hands over leadership

Daily Graphic Jan - 24 - 2025 , 09:57 2 minutes read

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has announced the resignation of its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Akwasi Agyeman.

Mr Agyeman led the GTA from January 2017, steering the organisation through a period of remarkable recovery and growth in Ghana's tourism sector.

He subsequently handed over to the acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Otto Langmane, and the Deputy CEO of GTA in charge of Operations, Ekow Sampson, at a short ceremony at the ministry.

Gratitude

Mr Agyeman expressed his deepest gratitude to the directors, staff of the ministry, the GTA team and all tourism stakeholders for their unwavering support during his tenure and asked for the same support and more for his successor.

Achievements

During his tenure, Mr Agyeman oversaw significant achievements, including the recovery of the tourism sector post-COVID-19.

International arrivals rebounded from 355,108 in 2020 to over 1.14 million in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Domestic tourism also flourished, with visitor numbers increasing from 456,000 in 2017 to 1.4 million in 2023.

Under his leadership, GTA completed numerous infrastructural projects, including the rehabilitation of the Kintampo Waterfalls, the Kwahu Paragliding Site, the Bunso Eco Park, the Denkyira Kyekyewere Eco Park, the Tano Boase Sacred Grove, the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm, and the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary.

The redevelopment of the Accra Tourist Information Centre and historic sites such as the Nationalism Park, the Geese Park, the Salaga Slave Market, the Bonwire Kente Museum, and the Pikworo Slavery Camp are also notable accomplishments.

Also under his leadership came campaigns such as "The Year of Return," "Beyond the Return," and "December in Ghana," and tactical marketing initiatives such as “See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana, Feel Ghana” which significantly boosted both international and domestic tourism, making the country a major Christmas holiday destination.

Mr Agyeman also spearheaded digital transformation within the GTA, launching the National Tourism Destination Single Window Project and the “Visit Ghana” App, streamlining operations and enhancing service delivery.

His commitment to training and capacity-building was evident through the Ghana CARES Obaatanpa programme, which trained over 3,069 individuals in customer service, digital marketing and tourism product knowledge.

Under Mr Agyeman's leadership, GTA forged significant international partnerships, strengthening Ghana's position on the global tourism map.

Collaborations with organisations such as Howard University, Warner Music, and Essence have been instrumental in promoting Ghana as a key MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination in West Africa.

These partnerships have also bolstered Ghana's diaspora tourism initiatives, further enhancing the country's appeal to global travellers.