GTA, GHATOF roll out professional programmes to bridge skills gaps
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF), in collaboration with key sector partners, have introduced professional and skills development programmes to address gaps and inefficiencies in the tourism industry.
The programmes, namely the Graduate Tourism Employment and Mobility Support (GTEM) and the Uplifting Women in Tourism (UWIT), are aimed at enhancing professionalism and boosting growth within the sector.
Women operators
The UWIT programme, which includes Chop Bars Remodelling, is designed to empower women operators in the informal tourism space and improve service delivery standards.
The President of GHATOF, Seth Yeboah Ocran, speaking at a joint media briefing in Accra at the weekend, described the UWIT as the federation’s most ambitious initiative in over three decades.
He said the programme would serve as a game-changer by addressing long-standing structural challenges within the sector through strategic partnerships and professional management.
The initiative involves more than 30 institutional partnerships structured to meet the expectations of investors in the tourism industry.
“Tourism and hospitality currently contribute about 5.7 per cent to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and we have a target to increase that figure to 10 per cent by 2030 through sustained interventions,” Mr Ocran said.
“The women who operate chop bars possess talent and resilience but often lack access to affordable financing, digital tools, reliable energy and recognition,” he added.
The UWIT programme, he noted, was developed under the National Professional Training and Certification Policy Framework and formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding.
The agreement involved the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, its Special Task Force on Health and Safety, Knutsford University and the Hotel, Catering and Tourism Training Institute (HOTCATT).
GTEM
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Afua Houadjeto, said Ghana’s ambition to become a leading tourism destination required improved standards and professionalism across the value chain, noting that poor service delivery and untrained tour guides undermined visitor experience.
She said the GTEM programme sought to address those challenges by certifying tourism professionals, promoting accountability and introducing structure into the industry.
She said the government had created an enabling framework for private sector-led growth, with young people playing a central role in service delivery.
The programme will train and certify 200 graduates as professional tour guides, who will be deployed across hotels, tour companies, cultural sites and event centres nationwide.
Meanwhile, GHATOF also swore in nine functional committees to support the implementation of its programmes and drive the federation’s mandate. – GNA
