By Victoria Agyemang
Cape Coast, Oct. 25, GNA – Madam Maame Efua Houadjeto, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has expressed surprise and disappointment over concerns raised by her Deputy, Mr Gilbert Abeiku Santana Aggrey regarding difficulties in accessing her for official consultations and decision-making.
She maintained that her office operated an open-door policy, particularly for executive and senior management officers to facilitate effective communication and the smooth administration of the Authority.
In a letter dated October 24, 2026, addressed to the Chairperson of the GTA Board of Directors, Madam Houadjeto responded to concerns raised by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer responsible for Marketing and Special Duties.
The response followed an earlier letter dated October 22, 2026, by Mr Aggrey, highlighting challenges regarding timely access to the CEO for consultations on urgent operational matters.
Madam Houadjeto acknowledged the importance of effective communication, timely decision-making and close coordination among the Authority’s executive management.
However, she expressed reservations about the concerns raised, insisting that they did not accurately reflect her availability to the Deputy CEO.
“I am surprised and disappointed that the letter does not reflect the true state of my availability to you as my Deputy Chief Executive Officer,” she stated.
She said the Authority, as an institution mandated to advance Ghana’s tourism industry, must uphold professionalism, mutual respect, accountability and collective responsibility.
According to her, communication gaps that could undermine the effective execution of official assignments must be promptly identified and addressed in the best interest of the institution.
Madam Houadjeto acknowledged that the Deputy CEO’s responsibilities, particularly in domestic tourism, special events, marketing and other assigned duties, required timely consultations and decisions.
She noted that such decisions could have operational, financial, strategic and stakeholder implications, making it necessary to establish appropriate arrangements for handling urgent matters without unnecessary delays.
To address the concerns and strengthen internal coordination, the CEO proposed five measures aimed at improving communication and decision-making within the Authority.
These include scheduled executive consultations between the CEO and Deputy CEO to review departmental priorities, operational challenges, ongoing assignments and matters requiring executive direction.
She also proposed a clear procedure for escalating urgent matters requiring immediate attention when scheduled consultations were not possible.
Other measures included improved coordination through the Executive’s Office to ensure meeting requests were appropriately communicated, acknowledged and scheduled according to their urgency.
Madam Houadjeto further called for clearer delegation of responsibilities, approval processes and matters requiring the direct intervention of the CEO, in line with the Authority’s administrative and governance procedures.
She also advocated regular management coordination to encourage constructive engagement, minimise delays and ensure the consistent implementation of institutional decisions.
The CEO explained that the proposed measures were intended not only to address the Deputy CEO’s concerns but also to strengthen the overall effectiveness of the Authority’s management processes.
She reaffirmed management’s commitment to professionalism, institutional discipline and harmonious working relationships.
Madam Houadjeto assured the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and the GTA Board Chairperson that management remained committed to resolving administrative challenges through constructive engagement and appropriate institutional channels.
She acknowledged the contribution of the Deputy CEO to the Authority and expressed optimism that both offices would continue to work collaboratively in advancing the institution’s mandate.
She stressed that differences in schedules, operational demands or administrative processes should not obstruct the effective discharge of their collective responsibilities.
The CEO consequently proposed an early meeting between the two offices to agree on practical arrangements for implementing the proposed measures.
She reiterated her commitment to strengthening executive coordination, improving operational efficiency and advancing the strategic objectives of the Ghana Tourism Authority.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey Kenneth Odeng Adade