Former Deputy Women’s Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Maame Efua Houadjeto, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA). In her new role, Houadjeto is expected to lead the GTA in promoting Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, boosting the tourism sector, and developing policies to attract both local and international tourists.
Her appointment comes as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the tourism industry and harness its potential for economic growth. Maame Efua Houadjeto brings a wealth of experience from her political background and previous roles, which have focused on empowering women and communities.
Her leadership is expected to help drive innovative initiatives that will elevate Ghana’s tourism profile on the global stage. She takes over from Akwasi Agyeman, who stepped down from his position on January 22. Mr Agyeman, who assumed office in January 2017, successfully guided the GTA through a challenging period, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and spearheaded its remarkable recovery and growth.
Under his leadership, international tourist arrivals surged from 355,108 in 2020 to 1,148,002 in 2023, exceeding pre-pandemic figures. Domestic tourism also experienced significant growth, with visitor numbers increasing from 456,000 in 2017 to 1.4 million in 2023.
Achievements
During his tenure, Mr Agyeman oversaw the rehabilitation of numerous tourist sites, such as Kintampo Waterfalls, the Kwahu Paragliding Site, Bunso Eco Park, Denkyira Kyekyewere Eco Park, Tano Boase Sacred Grove, the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm, and Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary.
He also led the redevelopment of key historic and cultural landmarks, including the Accra Tourist Information Centre, Nationalism Park, Geese Park, Salaga Slave Market, Bonwire Kente Museum, and Pikworo Slavery Camp.
Notable initiatives such as “The Year of Return” and “December in Ghana” positioned the country as a major Christmas holiday destination, boosting international tourism.
Mr Agyeman demonstrated a strong commitment to digital transformation, launching the National Tourism Destination Single Window Project and the “Visit Ghana” App.
He also prioritised capacity building, training over 3,069 individuals in customer service, digital marketing, and tourism product development under the Ghana CARES Obaatanpa Initiative.
By: William Narh
