I operate an open door policy – GTA CEO responds to Abeiku Santana’s concerns over access for official meetings

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Maame Efua Houadjeto, has disputed concerns raised by her deputy, Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey Santana, over alleged difficulties in securing meetings with her for urgent official consultations.

In a letter addressed to the Authority’s Board Chairperson, Mrs Houadjeto said she operated an open-door policy, particularly for executive and senior management staff, and expressed surprise at the claims about her availability.

“In as much as 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, I propose that we strengthen our internal consultation and communication arrangements through the following measures,” she stated.

Her response follows a letter dated October 22, 2026, in which Mr Aggrey, the Deputy CEO responsible for Marketing and Special Duties, asked the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, to intervene in what he described as repeated challenges in accessing the CEO for discussions on urgent operational matters.

Mr Aggrey said he had made several requests for meetings through the CEO’s secretary or personal assistant but was told on those occasions that she was unavailable.

He said the situation had hindered his efforts to obtain prompt guidance, approvals and decisions needed to carry out his duties, particularly in domestic tourism, special events and marketing.

“This situation sometimes causes delays in operations, stakeholder engagements, and the implementation of key assignments,” Mr Aggrey wrote.

He maintained that his letter was not intended as a personal grievance but was meant to draw attention to a communication challenge affecting the Authority’s operations.

“My intention is not to make a personal complaint, but to highlight a communication gap that needs to be addressed in the interest of effective management and institutional efficiency,” he said.

In her response, Mrs Houadjeto acknowledged the importance of timely consultations and decisions, especially on issues involving operations, finances, strategy and stakeholder relations.

She outlined five proposed measures to improve coordination between the two offices and the Authority’s executive management team.

The proposals include holding scheduled executive consultations to discuss departmental priorities and operational challenges, alongside establishing a clear process for identifying urgent issues and escalating them when regular meetings cannot be held.

She also recommended that meeting requests be properly communicated, acknowledged and scheduled by the responsible officers, with due consideration given to the urgency and significance of each matter.

Other proposals involve clarifying delegated duties and approval procedures, as well as promoting regular engagement among executive management members to reduce delays and support the consistent implementation of decisions.

Mrs Houadjeto said the proposals were intended to strengthen management practices across the Authority rather than resolve an individual complaint.

“I wish to emphasize that the objective of these measures is not merely to address individual concerns, but to strengthen the overall effectiveness of our management processes and promote a more responsive, coordinated, and results-oriented institution,” she said.

The GTA CEO reaffirmed management’s commitment to professionalism, institutional discipline and cordial working relationships among members of the executive team.

She expressed confidence that both offices could maintain an effective working relationship despite differences in schedules, operational pressures or administrative procedures.

“I value the contribution of the Deputy Chief Executive Officer to the Authority and expect that we will continue to work collaboratively, with mutual respect and a shared commitment to achieving our mandate,” she stated.

“Differences in schedules, operational demands, or administrative processes should not become impediments to the effective performance of our collective responsibilities.”

Mrs Houadjeto proposed that the two offices meet at the earliest mutually convenient time to agree on practical steps for implementing the suggested measures.