Maame Efua Houadjeto, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), has responded to concerns raised by her Deputy CEO, Mr Gilbert Aggrey Abeiku Santana, over access to her office for official consultations and timely decision-making.
In her response, Madam Houadjeto expressed surprise and disappointment over the concerns, insisting that her office operated an open-door policy, particularly for executive and senior management officers, to promote effective communication and ensure the smooth administration of the Authority.
In a letter dated October 24, 2026, addressed to the Chairperson of the GTA Board of Directors, the CEO responded to issues raised by Mr Santana, who serves as Deputy Chief Executive Officer responsible for Marketing and Special Duties.
The response followed an earlier letter dated October 22, 2026, in which the Deputy CEO reportedly highlighted difficulties in accessing the CEO for consultations on urgent operational matters.
Madam Houadjeto acknowledged the importance of effective communication, timely decision-making and close coordination among members of the Authority’s executive management. However, she maintained that the concerns raised did not accurately reflect her availability to her deputy.
“I am surprised and disappointed that the letter does not reflect the true state of my availability to you as my Deputy Chief Executive Officer,” she stated.
She emphasised that the Ghana Tourism Authority, as an institution mandated to promote and develop Ghana’s tourism industry, must uphold professionalism, mutual respect, accountability and collective responsibility.
According to her, any communication gaps that could impede the effective execution of official assignments must be identified and addressed promptly in the best interest of the Authority.
Madam Houadjeto acknowledged that the Deputy CEO’s responsibilities, particularly in domestic tourism, special events, marketing and other assigned duties, required timely consultations and decisions.
She noted that decisions in these areas could have operational, financial, strategic and stakeholder implications, making it necessary to establish practical arrangements for handling urgent matters without unnecessary delays.
To address the concerns and strengthen internal coordination, the CEO proposed five measures to improve communication and decision-making within the Authority.
The first is the introduction of scheduled executive consultations between the CEO and Deputy CEO to review departmental priorities, operational challenges, ongoing assignments and matters requiring executive direction.
The second is the establishment of a clear escalation procedure for urgent matters requiring immediate attention when scheduled consultations are not possible.
Third, she proposed improved coordination through the Executive Office to ensure that meeting requests are properly communicated, acknowledged and scheduled according to their urgency.
The fourth measure involves clarifying the delegation of responsibilities, approval processes and matters requiring the CEO’s direct intervention, in accordance with the Authority’s administrative and governance procedures.
Finally, she advocated regular management coordination to promote constructive engagement, minimise delays and ensure the consistent implementation of institutional decisions.
According to Madam Houadjeto, the proposed measures are intended not only to address the concerns raised by the Deputy CEO but also to strengthen the overall effectiveness of the Authority’s management processes.
The CEO reaffirmed her commitment to professionalism, institutional discipline and harmonious working relationships within the Authority.
She also assured the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and the Chairperson of the GTA Board of Directors that management remained committed to resolving administrative challenges through constructive engagement and appropriate institutional channels.
Madam Houadjeto acknowledged the Deputy CEO’s contribution to the Authority and expressed optimism that both offices would continue to work collaboratively to advance the institution’s mandate.
She stressed that differences in schedules, operational demands or administrative processes should not hinder the effective discharge of their collective responsibilities.
As part of efforts to resolve the concerns, the CEO proposed an early meeting between the two offices to agree on practical arrangements for implementing the proposed measures.
She reiterated her commitment to strengthening executive coordination, improving operational efficiency and advancing the strategic objectives of the Ghana Tourism Authority.
