By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi, GNA
Accra, May 6, GNA – Professor Kobby Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC), has been named among 12 global leaders reshaping place branding by The Place Brand Observer (TPBO).
The recognition forms part of TPBO’s 2026 list, titled “Twelve Leaders Shaping Place Branding Right Now,” unveiled on April 28 to spotlight practitioners, policymakers and researchers advancing the field.
Prof Mensah is the only West African tourism development executive on the list, which features ministers, city leaders and scholars from countries including The Gambia, Estonia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Chile, Thailand, Sierra Leone and the United States.
A statement issued by the Corporate Affairs Directorate of GTDC said a citation from The Place Brand Observer, read: “Kobby Mensah represents a convergence of academic insight and applied leadership in destination development.”
“His move into leading GTDC, signals a broader shift in Ghana’s approach, positioning tourism as part of an integrated system connecting investment, innovation and experience design,” it added.
The honour also places him within TPBO’s global “Who’s Who in Place Branding,” a peer-recognised network of more than 500 professionals working at the intersection of place strategy and leadership.
Prof Mensah was appointed CEO of GTDC by President John Dramani Mahama, bringing to the role extensive academic and strategic experience in tourism and marketing.
He is a Professor of Marketing at the University of Ghana Business School and a chartered marketer with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, United Kingdom.
He is also credited with pioneering digital tourism education in Ghana through the Destination LegonTourism Marketing Exhibition, which encourages the use of Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence and immersive storytelling in destination marketing.
Since assuming office, he has advocated the integration of academic expertise with practical experience to drive national development, with emphasis on innovation, sustainability and stakeholder collaboration.
The Board and Management of GTDC described the recognition as a collective achievement for Ghana, saying it reflected progress under the Government’s development agenda.
The Board said the recognition affirmed the growing role of tourism as a key driver connecting investment promotion, cultural diplomacy, youth employment and place experience.
Prof Mensah expressed gratitude for the honour, describing it as a call to action to strengthen Ghana’s tourism sector through coordinated, evidence-based strategies and partnerships with communities and investors.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Patrick Ofoe Nudzi