The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) on Wednesday, 21 January formally inaugurated its newly elected executive leadership in a landmark swearing-in ceremony held at the historic WEB Du Bois Centre in Accra. Themed “Collaborative Tourism Partnerships for a Sustainable 24-Hour Tourism Economy: The Black Star Experience,” the gathering brought together industry stakeholders, private sector partners, public officials, and tourism professionals to celebrate a new chapter for GHATOF and reaffirm commitment to sustainable, inclusive growth in Ghana’s tourism industry.

The event highlighted the critical role of partnership in Ghana’s tourism ecosystem — especially between private operators, government agencies, community actors, and international collaborators — as the nation accelerates efforts to build a resilient 24-hour tourism economy anchored on quality services, environmental stewardship, and seamless visitor experiences.

The President, Mr. Seth Ocran
In his address, he described a bold strategic agenda for the Federation. He underscored the imperative of private-sector leadership in shaping policy, elevating service standards, and spearheading transformative projects that advance sustainability and professionalism across the tourism value chain. Mr. Ocran reaffirmed GHATOF’s vision to be the principal mouthpiece and voice of private tourism businesses in Ghana — a mandate to represent collective interests, drive advocacy, and foster collaborative solutions that benefit operators large and small.

Mr. Ocran’s address anchored the Federation’s work around four strategic flagship projects, each aligned with broader goals for environmental protection, service excellence, inclusive tourism growth, and operational efficiency:

1. GHATOF Plastic Pollution Prevention Project
   Mr. Ocran highlighted GHATOF’s commitment to combating plastic pollution within Ghana’s tourism spaces. This initiative aims to reduce single-use plastics at attractions, accommodation facilities, and hospitality events, reinforcing sustainable waste management practices that protect ecosystems and enhance visitor appeal. The project complements wider national efforts to tackle plastic waste through collaborative private-sector engagement and community behaviour change.
2. GHATOF Consumer Service Certification Project
   A cornerstone of GHATOF’s quality enhancement agenda, this certification programme will standardise customer service delivery across member associations. By establishing clear service benchmarks and training pathways, the initiative seeks to elevate professionalism, boost tourist satisfaction, and drive competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.
3. GHATOF Clean Cookstove for Sustainable Tourism
   Addressing both environmental health and cultural tourism, GHATOF announced its Clean Cookstove Project. This initiative will promote energy-efficient, low-emission cookstoves in tourism-related foodservice settings — from hotels and eateries to community hospitality ventures — reducing indoor air pollution and supporting climate-friendly tourism operations.
4. Linking Transport: Addressing Mobility Challenges in Tourism
   Recognising transport as a critical enabler of the Black Star Experience, Mr. Ocran outlined GHATOF’s support for initiatives that tackle mobility constraints affecting tourists and operators alike. This strategic objective dovetails with broader sector efforts to improve connectivity and ease of movement between attractions, accommodations, and cultural sites — issues also emphasised by national tourism stakeholders in recent engagements as essential to visitor satisfaction and economic growth.

Collaborative Tourism Partnerships
Throughout the ceremony, speakers and guests echoed the centrality of collaboration — between government entities like the Ghana Tourism Authority and private sector players represented by GHATOF — pointing to public-private partnerships as a linchpin of sustainable tourism development. This aligns with industry momentum seen in recent stakeholder forums and initiatives that prioritise shared ownership of tourism growth and quality enhancement.

The swearing-in of GHATOF’s new executive leadership including the following executives; Mr. Isaac Sackey- Vice President, Mr. Joseph Amartey- National Secretary, Madam Edith Pinaman – Financial Secretary and Dr. Patricia Darko – Treasurer, marks a pivotal moment for private sector tourism in Ghana. With an ambitious strategic agenda rooted in sustainability, service excellence, and systemic collaboration, the Federation is poised to play a transformative role in realising the Black Star Experience vision — one that harnesses partnerships to drive a dynamic, inclusive, and 24-hour tourism economy for the benefit of businesses, communities, and visitors alike.

Source: Marketing & PR Desk, GHATOF