GHATOF to reposition country as 24-hour tourism destination

January 22, 2026

2 minutes read

Justice Agyenim Boateng (third from left) with Mr Seth Ocran (middle) and other members of GHATOF council Photo Victor A. Buxton

The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) has announced reforms aimed at repositioning the country as a clean, sustainable and globally competitive 24-hour tourism destination.

The new reforms seek to emphasise strong focus on sanitation, customer service, youth employment, transport reform and environmental protection.

Speaking at the inauguration of a new five-member GHATOF Council in Accra yesterday , the newly sworn-in President of the Federation, Mr Seth Yeboah Ocran, said tourism must be treated as a strategic national asset capable of shaping the country’s economic future and Africa’s global narrative.

Mr Ocran outlined GHATOF’s AGENDA 2026–2030, anchored on collaboration, sustainability and inclusivity, and unveiled plans to introduce a Plastics Pollution Preventive Policy to address worsening environmental degradation at beaches, heritage sites and urban centres.

He warned that plastic pollution weakens Ghana’s tourism brand, threatens public health and discourages investment, stressing that cleanliness must become a national leadership priority.

“A key highlight of the agenda is the mandatory annual customer service training and certification for all tourism enterprises, including hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transport services and chop bars,” he added.

Mr Ocran also noted that while chop bars remain central to the country’s culture and daily life, many operate under poor sanitation conditions, posing serious health and environmental risks.

“Under the new policy, GHATOF will lead a nationwide transformation of chop bars into modern, safe and tourism-ready food facilities with proper sanitation and the adoption of green energy solutions such as biogas generated from organic waste. The initiative is expected to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal, cut carbon emissions and improve public health, particularly for women,” Mr Ocran explained.

To enforce standards, he asserted that GHATOF plans to establish a Tourism Brigade, employing trained youth in all 261 districts to conduct quarterly inspections, monitor certification, assess service quality and collect industry data.

He said the programme was designed to ensure compliance while creating jobs and strengthening confidence in Ghana’s tourism offerings.

On transport, Mr Ocran called for the relocation of major intercity bus terminals from city centres and restrictions on trotro and okada operations on major highways, arguing that congestion undermines productivity and the visitor experience.

He advocated the creation of integrated transit hubs and an urban traffic engineering and safety network to support tourism and economic growth.

Moreover, he also announced plans to deepen collaboration with the Chieftaincy Institution to develop festivals, heritage sites and royal museums into high-value tourism products, and to work with state institutions to harmonise a national tourism calendar built around Black Heritage Month and December festivities.

The newly inaugurated GHATOF Council comprises Mr Seth Yeboah Ocran as President, Mr Isaac Sackey as Vice President, Mr Joseph Amartey as National Secretary, Dr Patricia Darko as Treasurer, and Ms Edith Pinaman as Financial Secretary.