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Tourism minister urges innovation as Ghana Hotels Association marks 50th anniversary
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ablah Dzifa Gomashie, has called on hoteliers to embrace innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation to strengthen Ghana’s hospitality sector.
She made the call in a Facebook post after joining members of the Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) on Friday to mark the Association’s 50th anniversary at the Ridge Royal Hotel in Cape Coast.
The event was held under the theme “50 Years of Advocacy, Perseverance, and Impacting Ghana’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry.”
Dzifa Gomashie commended the Association for its significant contribution to Ghana’s tourism growth over the past five decades, describing its journey as a story of “vision, resilience, partnership, and values.”
She noted that the GHA has served as a vital bridge between government, regulators, and industry players, helping to shape policies, improve service standards, and sustain operations through economic and global challenges.
“The hospitality industry remains the backbone of Ghana’s tourism ecosystem, providing not just rooms but experiences that form the first and last impressions of visitors to the country,” she stated.
The minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to partnering with the private sector to build a resilient and competitive hospitality industry.
She urged hoteliers to support the national campaign against indiscriminate littering and illegal mining, known as galamsey.
The minister outlined several initiatives being undertaken by the ministry and its agencies, including a review of the National Tourism Policy, hospitality training and certification programmes, investment incentive reviews through the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), and destination infrastructure improvement projects.
She further encouraged industry players to adopt eco-friendly practices, renewable energy solutions, and inclusive growth strategies that empower women, youth, and local communities.
Dzifa Gomashie called for stronger collaboration between hotels and other players within the tourism, culture, and creative arts sectors to enhance Ghana’s appeal as a preferred destination.
The celebration brought together hotel owners, government officials, and tourism stakeholders to reflect on the achievements of the past 50 years and explore ways to sustain the growth of Ghana’s hospitality industry.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Management of the Metro Mass Transit Limited has accused the government of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of pursuing what it describes as a “create, loot and share” agenda in the sale of portions of the Opera Square Bus Terminal to a private developer.
The Deputy Managing Director of the company, Haroun Apaw-Wiredu, raised the concerns while speaking to journalists at the Opera Square Bus Terminal in Accra on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
He indicated that the management of Metro Mass Transit would not tolerate any further unauthorized development at the terminal and would take steps to protect the property.
According to him, it would be wrong for a private developer to take control of state property for personal economic gain while the company and the public remain silent.
“How can we sit down and allow a private developer, just for his selfish economic gains, to capture state property for himself? No, we cannot sit down,” he stressed.
Mr Apaw Wiredu called on the public to resist what he described as attempts to take over state assets, adding that such actions would disadvantage ordinary citizens.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we must all stand up. We must all wake up. We must fight this level of brazen looting and attempts to milk the system at the expense of ordinary Ghanaians,” he indicated.
He explained that some individuals had been operating around the terminal for many years and alleged that the developer gained access to the land during the previous administration.
Mr Apaw Wiredu stressed that under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, the company would pursue all legitimate means to protect the terminal from what he described as unlawful takeover.
He added that management would use every legal avenue available to defend the property and prevent any attempt to take control of the land without proper authorization.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) has confirmed that its ongoing strike will continue until issues surrounding its salary structure are resolved with the government.
The Executive Secretary of the association, Isaac Bampoe Addo, announced this while addressing members at the CLOGSAG office premises on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.
He explained that after deliberations on the strike which began on March 9, members unanimously agreed that the action should continue unabated.
Mr Bampoe Addo stressed that the association will not call off the strike until government implements the proposed salary structure approved by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.
CLOGSAG earlier declared a nationwide strike on July 3, 2024, over government’s failure to implement the new salary structure, more than a year after a Memorandum of Understanding was reached.
By: Jacob Aggrey
