President of the Ghana Hotels Association (GHA), Dr. Edward Ackah-Nyamike, has called on the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to immediately reinstate the Public–Private Partnership Forum (PPPF), saying its inactivity is fueling needless speculation and mistrust within the tourism sector.
Dr. Ackah-Nyamike said the PPPF established under the Tourism Act 817 remains the Ministry’s mandated platform for quarterly engagements with private sector players. These meetings, he noted, enable the Ministry to share policy updates, address sector concerns, and provide clarity on ongoing programmes.
However, since the current Minister assumed office, the forum has not been operational. This communication gap, he said, has deepened perceptions that government is prioritising the creative arts at the expense of tourism and hospitality.
“If the Minister meets industry players every quarter, any outstanding issues or concerns will be clarified. Without these engagements, people form their own impressions and that is exactly what is happening now,” he said.
Dr. Ackah-Nyamike explained that recent public attention on creative arts initiatives such as the planned National Theatre project and the GH¢20 million Creative Arts Fund has left many tourism operators feeling overlooked.
He stressed that these perceptions may not reflect the Minister’s true priorities, but the lack of a functioning PPPF means industry players are not receiving timely updates on tourism-specific interventions.
“For all we know, she may be doing far more for tourism than for the creative industry. But because there is no regular feedback through the PPPF, people continue to speculate,” he added.
He said the absence of the forum has also compounded concerns around the Tourism Development Fund (TDF).
The PPPF, he noted, was the proper avenue for the Ministry to account for how the Fund is being utilised and to clarify whether government has fulfilled its seed capital commitments since the Fund was created in 2012.
Dr. Ackah-Nyamike emphasised that effective public–private collaboration is the backbone of a thriving tourism industry. Without structured and consistent engagement, he warned, the sector risks drifting without clear direction.
“The PPPF is an official monitoring and communication system. If the Minister cannot attend, the deputy should. If not the deputy, then the Chief Director. What is important is that the updates must continue,” he said.
Restoring the forum, he argued, would give the industry a clear understanding of the Ministry’s current priorities, justify policy directions, and rebuild confidence within the tourism ecosystem.
It would also offer clarity on how the Tourism Development Fund and other sector resources are being allocated.
“We need regular updates to know what is going on and where the emphasis is. That is what will bring harmony and confidence back to the industry,” he said.
