Accra: The Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) has urged increased budgetary allocation to the tourism, culture, and creative arts sector to support infrastructure, training, and service delivery. Mr. Victor Opoku Minta, President of the GHA, expressed concern over the sector's omission from the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, emphasizing the need for investment to compete with other destinations that are heavily investing in their tourism industries.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Opoku Minta discussed the issue in an interview following a presentation by Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, at the Government Accountability Series held in Accra. He appreciated the Minister's detailed presentation on sector developments but noted that it fell short of addressing the financial resources needed to sustain and expand initiatives. While sectors like education, agriculture, and roads received allocations in the mid-year budget review, tourism, culture, and creative arts were notably absent.
Mr. Opoku Minta highlighted the critical need for adequate funding for the development and maintenance of tourist, heritage, and cultural sites, as well as for training tour guides, chefs, and hospitality workers. He warned that insufficient training could lead to declining service standards and reduced guest satisfaction.
Maintenance of tourism facilities was identified as another area requiring funding, extending beyond basic repairs to include essential amenities. He cited significant investments by countries like The Gambia, Senegal, South Africa, Rwanda, and Nigeria, mentioning that South Africa alone invested over 2.5 billion rand in their tourism sector last year.
The GHA President shared that the Association is implementing measures to support government efforts, including a five-year strategic plan with the Ghana Tourism Authority to spearhead specialized training programs. The development of an indigenous hospitality-based booking platform for Ghanaian hotels and guesthouses is also underway, aimed at adding value by providing an industry-driven service for booking accommodation.
Mr. Opoku Minta advocated for structured and mandatory industry membership to enhance coordination, standards, compliance, communication, training, and service delivery nationwide. He emphasized the importance of consistent service quality across the country.
Despite rating Madam Gomashie's performance as 'very good,' he urged her to advocate for increased budgetary support for the sector. He also highlighted challenges with regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana National Fire Service, and the National Identification Authority, calling for dialogue instead of enforcement measures that could shut down businesses.
Concerns were raised about the requirement for hotels to implement biometric systems for staff and client identification, which could impose additional costs on small guesthouses. Mr. Opoku Minta also noted the multiplicity of taxes as a challenge for the hospitality industry.
The Association plans to continue engaging with the Minister and stakeholders to find structured solutions to industry challenges, stressing the need for strategic planning to capitalize on future opportunities, such as preparations for Ghana's 70th anniversary.