Accra: The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment to strengthen professional training, certification, and occupational health and safety standards in the tourism and hospitality industry. Mr. Seth Ocran, President of the Federation, highlighted that the agreement aims to establish industry-wide standards for training tourism practitioners across the country.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Ocran explained that the Federation, serving as the umbrella body for private sector tourism practitioners, had developed industry training models to be implemented nationwide in collaboration with accredited institutions. He emphasized the need for industry standardization and certification, noting the collaboration with the Labour Ministry would address workforce development challenges, particularly the lack of professional training among workers in tourism-related businesses.
Mr. Ocran observed that unlike countries such as Kenya and South Africa, which have established tourism training institutions, Ghana lacks specialized schools dedicated to tourism education. Therefore, the Federation developed industry standards and plans to collaborate with technical universities and private institutions licensed to provide training. Under the arrangement, these institutions would adopt agreed industry standards to train tourism practitioners nationwide.
The Federation has already signed an MoU with NASFORD University to begin training programs. Additionally, Kumasi Technical University, the University of Cape Coast, and Cape Coast Technical University have expressed interest in the initiative. The partnership would complement the regulatory role of the Ghana Tourism Authority, with the Labour Ministry's inspection teams ensuring compliance with health, safety, and workforce training standards across tourism facilities.
Dr. Daniel Ayikwei, Chairman of the Health and Safety Task Force of the Labour Ministry, stated that the agreement signifies a shared commitment to improving workplace safety and professional standards within the tourism industry. The partnership would unite the Health and Safety Task Force, the Department of Factory Inspectorate, and GHATOF to promote best practices and strengthen compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.
Dr. Ayikwei emphasized that sustaining the sector's growth required prioritizing the health and safety of workers, visitors, and stakeholders. The collaboration would facilitate information sharing, training initiatives, and coordinated monitoring to ensure safe and healthy working environments in tourism establishments. The initiative also aligns with the government's 24-hour economy policy, potentially creating between 300,000 and 500,000 jobs while boosting revenue generation and sustainable development.
Dr. Ayikwei expressed appreciation to GHATOF for its commitment to enhancing safety and professionalism within the industry. He concluded that the agreement would help build a tourism sector that is not only economically vibrant but also upholds high standards of safety and responsibility.