GHATOF signs MoU with Labour, Jobs, Employment Ministry
THE Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment to enhance occupational health and safety across the nation’s tourism and hospitality sector.
The agreement, developed in collaboration with the Department of Factory Inspectorate and the Health and Safety Task Force, seeks to promote safer working environments while supporting the industry’s growth and contribution to national development.
Speaking at the ceremony in Accra on Thursday, Chairman of the Health and Safety Task Force for the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Daniel Ayikweh, described the deal as more than a formal partnership, calling it a shared commitment to improving workplace safety, strengthening compliance with occupational health regulations, and enhancing professional training within the tourism sector.
He stressed tourism’s role as a key driver of Ghana’s economy, generating employment and revenue, and said sustaining this growth requires prioritising the health and safety of workers, visitors, and other stakeholders.
The Department of Factory Inspectorate and the task force will collaborate with GHATOF to implement coordinated monitoring, promote best practices, build industry capacity, and provide training initiatives aimed at raising safety standards across tourism establishments.
The Head of the Department of Factory Inspectorate, Mr Joe Sam Alana, noted that the department was the government’s primary regulator of occupational health and safety under the Factories, Offices and Shops Act, 1970 (Act 328). He acknowledged that limited staffing has hindered monitoring, adding that the Health and Safety Task Force has helped expand outreach and improve awareness of workplace safety.
Mr Alana highlighted training workers on personal health and safety as crucial to reducing workplace accidents and ensuring safer conditions.
The President of GHATOF, Mr Seth Yeboah Ocran, said the agreement marked a “significant milestone” for the private tourism sector, representing 22 trade associations and over 10,000 businesses including hotels, car rentals, tour operators, and hospitality services.
He added that tourism supports other sectors, particularly agriculture, and said the partnership will launch nationwide professional training and certification programmes to establish minimum operational standards.
Mr Ocran expressed confidence that the collaboration would strengthen industry professionalism and safety while boosting Ghana’s tourism economy. He also linked the initiative to the government’s 24-hour economy policy, estimating it could generate 300,000 to 500,000 jobs as it expands across sectors.
BY RAYMOND APPIAH AMPONSAH
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