Akwasi Agyeman, CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority
Stakeholders in the hospitality industry have officially launched a network to promote professionalism and ethical standards for enhanced growth and development of the sector.
The network—Hospitality Professionals Network, Ghana (HPNG) —is expected to help in building the capacity of people working in the industry to enable them to provide world-class services and grow in their professional career.
It is made up of local and international hoteliers, owners of guest houses and other workers within the hospitality industry value chain.
Some of the board members are Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Mr. Yaw Agbeko; Mr. John Addo-Kufuor, CEO, Airport West Hospitality; Ms. Jeanne Donkoh, CEO, Bioko Treats; Mr. Herbert Freise, MD, Hospitality Solutions, among others.
Launching the network via Zoom in Accra, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), indicated that the hospitality industry is one of the worst affected in the tourism sector by COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are still in difficult times as an industry and we know the difficulties some of our members are facing and we believe that coming together will help us understand at least some of the dynamics and challenges we all face and how we can get out together,” he said.
Mrs. Agyeman commended the group for the foresight and assured members of the GTA’s support and partnership to ensure that the sector thrives.
Ms. Jeanne Donkoh, Chief Executive Officer of Bioko Treats, urged industry players to continuously strive and educate themselves to enhance their ethical and professional standards, as well as abreast themselves of changes in the sector.
On his part, Mr. John Addo-Kufuor, the CEO of Airport West, said the network would equip members, especially the youth, with professional and technical skills that would enable them to operate efficiently and effectively.
The Managing Director of Hospitality Solutions, Mr. Herbert Fries, also called for more dialogue and expertise sharing among industry players to address challenges in the sector and promote a more vibrant industry.