By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi, GNA
Accra, May 8, GNA – Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has called for deliberate policy reforms to strengthen women’s capacities and leadership in Ghana’s tourism sector to advance national development.
She also urged African Ministers to increase investment to address gender disparities and advocate reforms that move women from participation into leadership roles.
Madam Gomashie made the call during the Ministerial Roundtable at the Second UN Tourism Regional Congress on Women Empowerment in Tourism in Africa, held at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
She noted that women constitute a significant portion of Ghana’s tourism workforce, particularly in hospitality, gastronomy, and cultural enterprises, but remain underrepresented in decision-making positions.
“Addressing this imbalance requires more than incremental efforts and so we need serious policy decisions to transform the sector,” she stated.
Madam Gomashie said she had taken intentional steps to promote women’s inclusion, including ensuring female representation in official delegations and leadership spaces.
She cited her decision to travel with key female professionals, including Maame Efua Houadjeto, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, as an example of promoting women’s advancement.
The Minister stated that government had continued to implement interventions to improve women’s access to finance and capacity‑building through funding initiatives and entrepreneurship programmes.
She explained that these interventions had supported grassroots women to scale businesses within the tourism value chain, though gaps remained at mid‑level professional development where many women struggled to transition into leadership roles.
Madam Gomashie also highlighted the central role of culture and heritage in Ghana’s tourism, saying women drive activities such as festivals, food production, fashion, and hospitality services.
She emphasised that empowering women through training, exposure, international participation, and leveraging social media would enhance their contribution to national development.
Reflecting on resource allocation and institutional support, the Minister said that greater investment in tourism would generate economic returns, create jobs, and contribute significantly to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product.
The roundtable focused on integrating gender-responsive policies into national tourism strategies, exploring approaches such as gender-responsive budgeting, and the use of disaggregated data to ensure equitable resource allocation and accountability.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Patrick Ofoe Nudzi