The Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) has expressed surprise at President Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision to replace Dr. Mohammed Awal as the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC). The GHA commended Dr. Awal for his outstanding performance during his three-year tenure and highlighted his significant contributions to the sector.
Dr. Edward Ackah-Nyamike Jnr., the President of GHA, stated in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that Dr. Awal had efficiently managed the $40 million World Bank-funded Ghana Tourism Development Project (GTDP). He successfully secured funds for grants to support the tourism and hospitality industry during the challenging times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Dr. Awal revitalized the Public Private Partnership Forum (PPPF) and oversaw the renovation of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and other tourist sites under the GTDP.
Furthermore, Dr. Ackah-Nyamike acknowledged Dr. Awal’s efforts in promoting domestic tourism, organizing important events such as the Presidential Summit on Tourism and the Tourism Investment Summit, and continuing the “Beyond the Return” project that followed the successful “Year of Return” initiative.
While recognizing Dr. Awal’s achievements, Dr. Ackah-Nyamike also noted some areas where improvement was needed. These included transparency and accountability in the disbursement of funds, resolving copyright issues in the industry, addressing high taxes and levies, and promoting mandatory membership of hotels in the Ghana Hotels Association.
With the appointment of Mr. Andrew Egyapa Mercer as the new Minister of Tourism, the GHA expressed cautious optimism, urging him to engage all stakeholders in the industry and build upon the achievements of his predecessor. Key areas that the new minister should focus on include the GTDP, taxes and levies, the National Tourism Policy, the National Training Policy on Tourism, infrastructure development, and the effective functioning of the PPPF.
By addressing these issues and paying attention to the arts and culture aspects of the ministry, the new minister has the potential to make a significant impact during his anticipated tenure of around 10 months. The GHA remains hopeful that the tourism sector in Ghana will continue to thrive under the leadership of the new minister.
Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) izrazilo je iznenađenje zbog odluke predsjednika Nana Akufo-Addoa da zamijeni dr. Mohammeda Awala kao ministra turizma, umjetnosti i kulture (MOTAC). GHA je pohvalio dr. Awala zbog njegove izvanredne izvedbe tijekom njegova trogodišnjeg mandata i istaknuo njegov značajan doprinos sektoru.
Dr. Edward Ackah-Nyamike Jnr., predsjednik GHA-e, izjavio je u intervjuu za Ghana News Agency (GNA) da je dr. Awal učinkovito upravljao projektom razvoja turizma u Gani (GTDP) u vrijednosti od 40 milijuna dolara, koji je financirao Svjetska banka. Uspješno je osigurao sredstva za potpore turističko-ugostiteljskoj industriji tijekom izazovnih vremena uzrokovanih pandemijom COVID-19. Dodatno, dr. Awal je osnažio Forum javno-privatnog partnerstva (PPPF) i nadzirao renovaciju Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park-a i drugih turističkih lokacija u okviru GTDP-a.
Osim toga, dr. Ackah-Nyamike priznao je napore dr. Awala u promicanju domaćeg turizma, organizaciji važnih događaja poput Predsjedničkog vrha o turizmu i Samita o investicijama u turizam, te nastavku projekta “Iza povratka” koji je slijedio nakon uspješne inicijative “Godina povratka”.
Prepoznajući postignuća dr. Awala, dr. Ackah-Nyamike je također primijetio područja u kojima je potrebno poboljšanje. To uključuje transparentnost i odgovornost u raspodjeli sredstava, rješavanje problema autorskih prava u industriji, rješavanje visokih poreza i davanja, te promicanje obavezne članstva hotela u GHA.
Sa imenovanjem gospodina Andrewa Egyapa Mercera za novog ministra turizma, GHA je izrazila oprezan optimizam, pozivajući ga da angažira sve dionike u industriji i nadograđuje postignuća svojeg prethodnika. Ključna područja na koja bi novi ministar trebao usmjeriti pažnju uključuju GTDP, poreze i davanja, Nacionalnu turističku politiku, Nacionalnu politiku obrazovanja o turizmu, razvoj infrastrukture i učinkovito funkcioniranje PPPF-a.
Rješavanjem tih pitanja i posvećivanjem pažnje aspektima umjetnosti i kulture u ministarstvu, novi ministar ima potencijal da ostvari značajan utjecaj tijekom svog očekivanog mandata od oko 10 mjeseci. GHA ostaje optimističan da će sektor turizma u Gani nastaviti napredovati pod vodstvom novog ministra.
Pojmovi:
– GHA – Ghana Hotels Association (Udruga hotela u Gani)
– MOTAC – Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Ministarstvo turizma, umjetnosti i kulture)
– GTDP – Ghana Tourism Development Project (Projekt razvoja turizma u Gani)
– PPPF – Public Private Partnership Forum (Forum javno-privatnog partnerstva)
– COVID-19 – koronavirusna bolest 2019
Sugerirani povezani linkovi:
– ghanatourism.gov.gh
– hotels.com