Ghana Launches Training and Women's Empowerment Programmes to Professionalise Tourism Sector
The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) have jointly launched a series of initiatives aimed at raising professional standards and broadening economic participation in Ghana's tourism sector. Announced at a media briefing and swearing-in ceremony in Accra on 9 April 2026, the programmes include the National Professional Training and Certification Programme, targeting frontline workers across hospitality and tour operations, and the Uplifting Women in Tourism (UWIT) initiative, which focuses on improving access to finance, digital tools, clean energy and formal business recognition for women operating informal food establishments. Tourism currently contributes 5.7% to Ghana's GDP, with authorities targeting growth to 10% by 2030.
A third initiative, the Graduate Tourism Employment and Mobility (GTEM) programme, will train and certify 200 graduates as professional tour guides and provide structured mobility support to enable deployment across hotels, tour companies, cultural sites and events. The GTA is also partnering with financial institutions to support clean energy adoption within tourism businesses, citing operational cost reduction as a key driver of sector competitiveness. GTA CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto underscored the need for cross-sector coordination, stating that no single institution could transform the sector alone, while GHATOF President Seth Ocran emphasised that certification must be "accessible - not just aspirational" for Ghana to build a globally competitive tourism industry.
Source: The Herald Ghana