BY NADIA NTIAMOAH
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Maame Efua Houadjeto, has broken her silence amid the controversy surrounding her working relationship with her deputy, Abeiku Santana, using her professional background and more than two decades of experience in the tourism, hospitality and events industries to defend her credentials.
In what appears to be a response to the tensions surrounding the leadership of the Authority, Houadjeto has expressed disappointment over what she perceives as resistance from some men towards women occupying positions of authority.
Although she did not directly mention Abeiku Santana by name in her latest remarks, her comments come against the background of reports of disagreements within the leadership of the Ghana Tourism Authority, including claims that her deputy had written to the sector minister over concerns involving her administration.
The reported correspondence has drawn attention to the relationship between the two senior officials and raised questions about the internal dynamics of an institution responsible for promoting Ghana as a tourism destination.
However, Houadjeto’s latest statement appears aimed at challenging any suggestion that her leadership position is unsupported by professional experience, insisting that her involvement in the hospitality, tourism and events sectors stretches back more than 25 years.
Recounting her career, the GTA boss said she had spent over two decades managing corporate events and handling major assignments across exhibitions, marketing, investment forums, business-to-business engagements and other large-scale programmes.
She also disclosed that she had been involved in publishing magazines focused on property and construction, adding that her experience in the corporate events industry had exposed her to several major projects and high-profile engagements.
Among the notable assignments she recalled was her involvement in the team that brought Senegalese-American music star Akon to Ghana for the first time.
According to her, her interest in hospitality developed naturally over the years, even though her academic background initially took her through journalism and project management before she pursued a master’s degree in governance and leadership.
She explained that after gaining experience in these fields, she eventually moved into the hospitality industry, where her professional focus expanded from tours to hospitality services and event management.
Houadjeto further highlighted her experience in tourism, particularly her work involving international visitors and high-profile personalities who travelled to Ghana.
She mentioned Louis Farrakhan and Akbar Muhammad among the prominent figures she had managed during their engagements in the country, noting that their visits also involved large groups of people.
The GTA CEO said she had worked with several African-American associations visiting Ghana for the first time, contributing to efforts to strengthen the country’s tourism and hospitality appeal among international visitors.
She also claimed that her company was the first to host the Princess Cruise ship in Ghana, an experience she believes demonstrates her longstanding involvement in developing the country’s tourism and hospitality industry.
Beyond tourism and hospitality, Houadjeto recalled her time at Charterhouse, where she worked in client services and contributed to the organisation of the maiden Ghana Music Awards.
She said her responsibilities also included managing various local and international accounts, further broadening her experience in corporate relations, entertainment and event management.
Using these experiences to defend her professional record, she expressed frustration that questions surrounding her leadership had seemingly revived what she considers an enduring problem of some men struggling to accept women in positions of authority.
“It’s disheartening to see that after all these years, some men still can’t stand having a woman lead an organization. Unbelievable… SMH,” she wrote.
Her remarks have added another dimension to the unfolding controversy at the Ghana Tourism Authority, particularly because they come amid reports of friction involving her deputy, Abeiku Santana.
The reported letter from Santana to the sector minister has become a significant part of the discussion surrounding the two officials, although the specific contents of the correspondence and the precise grievances raised would need to be established before conclusions can be drawn about the nature of the disagreement.
The development has also brought renewed attention to the working relationship between the GTA’s chief executive and her deputy, with questions emerging about whether the disagreement is rooted in administrative decisions, professional differences or broader concerns about the Authority’s leadership structure.
