By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, Nov. 10, GNA – Mr Emmanuel Frimpong, Founding President of the Africa Tourism Research Network (ATRN), has called for performance-based leadership in tourism institutions to ensure accountability and accelerate the growth of the sector.
He said leadership effectiveness should be measured by institutional results rather than personal relationships, political considerations or public visibility.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Tuesday in Accra, Mr Frimpong said the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), which was responsible for tourism promotion, regulation, licensing, research and product development, must demonstrate measurable progress in delivering its mandate.
He said the Authority’s performance should be assessed against indicators such as growth in domestic and international tourism, diversification of tourism products, improved regulatory compliance, stakeholder satisfaction, investment growth and effective use of tourism development resources.
Mr Frimpong said leadership uncertainty and poor institutional coordination could undermine stakeholder confidence and affect tourism marketing campaigns, regulatory activities and destination development initiatives.
The tourism industry, he said, depended on institutional stability, effective coordination, investor confidence and sustained engagement with industry players, including hotels, tour operators, travel agents and other private sector operators.
Mr Frimpong said the approaching “December in GH” tourism season made operational stability particularly important to ensure the effective implementation of programmes to attract visitors and generate revenue.
He urged the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to place the GTA’s leadership under a performance-based accountability framework and strengthen private sector participation in tourism development.
Ghana needed a coordinated approach linking tourism marketing with infrastructure development, investment promotion, digital transformation, heritage preservation and skills development, Mr Frimpong said.
He also urged the GTA Board to monitor executive performance and address governance concerns, stressing that the Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officers must work collaboratively towards common institutional goals.
“Public office is a responsibility, not a platform for personal advancement at the expense of the institution,” he said.
Mr Frimpong said Ghana had enormous tourism potential, but realising it required strategic investment, policy consistency, effective leadership and collaboration between the public and private sectors.
He said the ultimate measure of leadership in the sector should be its contribution to industry growth and the livelihoods of people who depended on tourism.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng