The Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) is calling on the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture to urgently convene the Public-Private Partnership Forum (PPPF) as mandated under Section 42 of the Tourism Act, 2011 (Act 817). The Association believes the forum is critical for addressing persistent challenges confronting the hospitality sector.
Speaking at a press briefing to mark the GHA’s 50th anniversary, President of the Association, Dr. Edward Ackah-Nyamike, emphasized the need for the statutory platform to be activated.
“We need the Minister’s attention, the new Minister’s attention, to the fact that the Public-Private Partnership Forum, which is enshrined in the Tourism Act, mandates the Minister to organise a forum every quarter,” Dr. Ackah-Nyamike stated. “We want her to take that position seriously, because it gives her an opportunity to talk to agencies and tourism stakeholders, so they will know the challenges of the industry.”
The PPPF was established under the Tourism Act to foster collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Ghana Tourism Authority, and private sector actors. It is designed to serve as a formal platform to deliberate on issues affecting the growth and sustainability of Ghana’s tourism sector.
However, despite its legal grounding, the forum has not been consistently convened by successive administrations, raising concerns about a lack of dialogue and engagement with industry players. Stakeholders argue that this neglect has contributed to a buildup of unresolved issues within the sector.
Dr. Ackah-Nyamike also pressed for greater transparency and accountability in the management of the Tourism Development Fund, which is partially financed through a one percent tourism levy contributed by industry operators.
“There are some issues about the disbursement of the Tourism Development Fund,” he noted. “We believe industry players must be better informed and involved in how these resources are being utilised.”
The Association is optimistic that under renewed leadership at the Ministry, the PPPF will be revived and institutionalised as a dependable channel for policy dialogue, stakeholder engagement, and tourism sector reforms.
