The Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) has urged Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Tourism Minister-designate to consider apportioning part of the one per cent tourism levy to support the private sector.

Dr Edward Ackah-Nyamike, president of GHA, said they had always advocated for part of the fund to be used to support the private sector, especially trade associations because they served as channels for that payment. 

“While the levy is intended for industry development, it should also help empower trade associations to fulfil their roles effectively, benefiting the broader tourism sector,” he said.

The call comes after President John Dramani Mahama, on Thursday, nominated Madam Gomashie, as the Minister Designate for the Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Ministry.

Dr Ackah-Nyamike said the Association has great expectations of her, hence the call, saying “A lot of trade associations are very weak, and not able to make any impact, but there is so much that they can do when given the necessary support.”

“If we strengthen the associations, they will also help to bring in more money into the fund.”

He noted that the Association expects her to give extra attention to the Public-Private Partnership Forum, which is a provision in the GTA Act 817, aimed at bringing industry players together to ensure that they are on the same page with her all the time. 

“This quarterly forum will allow her to listen to industry players, and understand their challenges and issues.”

Mr Ackah-Nyamike said the Minister Designate must consider the consolidation of taxes for the industry at very affordable levels.

“We expect that she will champion that course to ensure that the taxes do not overbite us, that will make it counterproductive.”

“She will also have to look at reducing utility tariffs, as it will go a long way to deal with our operational costs and bring them down significantly. Because those two utilities have a strong bearing on our operational costs.”

He also urged Madam Gomashie to champion the establishment of the tourism school, which would be a special-purpose school for the industry.

“From the Hotels Association angle, we are looking at a tourism school that will provide more like in-service training for staff already in the industry and will be mandatory for all players in the industry to ensure uniformity in the sector. We should have some basic standards, which will be taught in that tourism school.”

“Infrastructure development should also be on her agenda as the country pushes for the introduction of medical or health tourism.” 

Dr Ackah-Nyamike also urged the minister Designate to ensure that the country attracts a lot of foreign investments, saying “There are a whole lot of opportunities in the industry that we need investors to come on board to partner with us to achieve.”

“The Meeting, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) is one event that attracts visitors to the country. If we get those big conferences, we will get a lot of people into the country at a particular time and that is where we will also benefit from.”

Madam Gomashie, according to the GHA, must promote domestic tourism to get people excited to visit other parts of the country. 

“In partnership with government we can continue rotating the celebration of Independence Day and other national activities across the country, so, people will be able to travel to various parts of the country to promote domestic tourism.”

He urged the Minister Designate to continue with the “Beyond the Return” initiative, introduced by the former administration as it had served the industry quite well and should be championed. 

“She also has to keep an eye on the regulatory bodies that regulate the industry.”

He said Madam Gomashie was qualified for the job because she had been an industry person, especially in the culture and creative arts aspects, and had been involved in a lot of tourism. 

She has been a deputy minister at the same ministry before. Her disposition is also right for the job in terms of human relations and dealing with various stakeholders in the industry.

She has everything that it takes and is certainly qualified for the job, he added.

“A lot has been done in the past eight years we must confess and acknowledge, so there is a solid foundation on which she can move us to the next level. Her work is well cut out, and so she can make it.”