Accra: Professor Kobby Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC), has been named among 12 global leaders reshaping place branding by The Place Brand Observer (TPBO).
According to Ghana News Agency, the recognition is part of TPBO's 2026 list, titled 'Twelve Leaders Shaping Place Branding Right Now,' which was unveiled on April 28. This list aims to spotlight practitioners, policymakers, and researchers who are advancing the field of place branding. Prof Mensah is notably the only West African tourism development executive included on this prestigious list, which features ministers, city leaders, and scholars from various countries such as The Gambia, Estonia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Chile, Thailand, Sierra Leone, and the United States.
A statement issued by the Corporate Affairs Directorate of GTDC highlighted a citation from The Place Brand Observer, which praised Prof Mensah for his unique blend of academic insight and applied leadership in destination development. The statement noted that his leadership at GTDC signifies a broader shift in Ghana's approach to tourism, aiming to position it as part of an integrated system that connects investment, innovation, and experience design.
This accolade also places Prof Mensah within TPBO's global 'Who's Who in Place Branding,' a peer-recognized network comprising over 500 professionals working at the intersection of place strategy and leadership. Prof Mensah's journey as CEO of GTDC began with his appointment by President John Dramani Mahama, bringing with him a wealth of academic and strategic experience in tourism and marketing. In addition to his role at GTDC, he serves as a Professor of Marketing at the University of Ghana Business School and is a chartered marketer with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, United Kingdom.
Prof Mensah is also credited with pioneering digital tourism education in Ghana through the Destination LegonTourism Marketing Exhibition, which promotes the use of Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and immersive storytelling in destination marketing. Since taking office, he has been a strong advocate for integrating academic expertise with practical experience to drive national development, with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and stakeholder collaboration.
The Board and Management of GTDC hailed the recognition as a collective achievement for Ghana, emphasizing that it reflects the progress made under the Government's development agenda. They stated that the recognition affirms the growing role of tourism as a key driver connecting investment promotion, cultural diplomacy, youth employment, and place experience.
In expressing his gratitude for the honor, Prof Mensah described it as a call to action to strengthen Ghana's tourism sector through coordinated, evidence-based strategies and partnerships with communities and investors.