By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, March 19, GNA – Mr Emmanuel Frimpong, President African Tourism Research Network (ATRN), has called on Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, current Secretary-General of the UN Tourism, to rescind his decision to stand for third term.
He said Mr Pololikashvili’s decision raised significant concerns within the global tourism community, and “I have come to a conclusion that this will be unethical, unfair, and a bad precedent for the organisation.”
He said the UN Tourism, formerly United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting sustainable and universally accessible tourism, and traditionally, Secretary-General’s served a maximum of two terms, ensuring leadership rotation and fresh perspectives.
In a release issued to the Ghana News Agency, on Wednesday, in Accra, he said UNWTO, like many international organizations, had maintained a precedent of limiting its Secretary-General’s tenure to two terms, which aligned with broader UN practices.
He said extending tenure beyond the established norms undermined the democratic principles of leadership rotation
and transparency, creating a dangerous precedent for future leaders.
“Additionally, changing rules to allow a third term while in office under the cover of unratified lacuna raises serious ethical concerns about self-interest and manipulation of governance structures. This move could be perceived as an attempt to cling to power rather than prioritise the organisation’s best interests.”
Mr Frimpong noted that Mr. Pololikashvili’s previous election was marred by allegations of irregularities, with reports suggesting that the electoral process was manipulated to disadvantage other candidates.
There were also allegations and concerns about favouritism, lack of transparency and undue influence over the electoral process.
“By allowing an incumbent to ‘alter’ the rules to extend their leadership, the playing field becomes unfair. This discourages other qualified candidates from running and diminishes the credibility of UN Tourism’s leadership selection process. Fair elections and leadership turnover are essential to maintaining institutional legitimacy.”
He added that some key member states had publicly opposed Mr Pololikashvili’s bid for a third term, saying this opposition reflected broader dissatisfaction among member states and stakeholders regarding his leadership.
“A leader who lacks broad international support cannot effectively drive the global tourism agenda. If major stakeholders, including host nations, express dissent, it indicates a significant loss of confidence in his administration.”
The ATRN President said the global tourism sector required stable, unbiased, and competent leadership that is representative of all member states, and allowing a third term would weaken the credibility of the organisation and discourage other nations from fully engaging in its mission.
He stated that under Mr Pololikashvili’s leadership, UNWTO had faced criticism for its handling of major global tourism challenges. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization was chastised for being slow to provide cohesive, actionable strategies to assist struggling nations in reviving their tourism sectors.”
Additionally, critics argue that his tenure had focused more on personal political maneuvers rather than advancing the UNWTO’s core mission of promoting sustainable tourism.
“If a leader is unable to demonstrate significant progress on key issues within two terms, extending their mandate is unlikely to yield better or different results. Leadership change is essential to introducing new ideas, perspectives, and solutions to pressing global tourism concerns.”
He said extending a leader’s term beyond established limits raised concerns about power consolidation. Allowing Mr. Pololikashvili a third term could weaken internal democratic processes, discourage qualified new candidates from stepping forward, and erode accountability within the UNWTO.
Leaders who remain in power too long often develop networks of influence that reduce transparency and accountability. The longer a leader stays in power, the more difficult it becomes to challenge their authority, leading to governance issues that could hinder the organisation’s effectiveness.
“The UN Tourism must prioritise transparency, accountability, and adherence to democratic norms. Leadership change is crucial for innovation, fairness, and the sustainable growth of the organization. I hope Mr. Pololikashvili will re-consider his decision to run a third term and be a statesman to support the organisation.”
GNA
CA/