NewzThe Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Maame Efua Houadjeto, has responded to concerns raised by her one of deputies, Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey Santana, over difficulties accessing her for urgent official consultations. In a letter written to the Board Chairperson of the Authority, Mrs Houadjeto said she operates an open-door policy, particularly for executive and senior management officers, and questioned the suggestion that her availability had been a challenge. “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 22nd October 2026 in which Mr Aggrey, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer responsible for Marketing and Special Duties, appealed to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, to intervene in what he described as recurring difficulties in accessing the CEO for consultations on urgent operational matters. In his letter, Mr Aggrey said he had, on several occasions, requested meetings through the CEO’s secretary or personal assistant, only to be informed that she was unavailable. He said the situation had made it difficult for him to obtain timely guidance, approvals and decisions needed to carry out his responsibilities, 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 stressed that his concerns were not intended as a personal complaint but were aimed at addressing what he considered a communication gap within the institution. “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.
Maame Efua proposes measures to improve communication In her response, Mrs Houadjeto acknowledged the need for timely consultations and decisions, particularly on matters with operational, financial, strategic or stakeholder implications. She proposed five measures to improve coordination between the two offices and the Authority’s executive management team. Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in charge of Marketing and Special Duties, Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey aka Santana, has asked the Tourism Minister to intervene in recurring difficulties accessing the Authority’s CEO, Maame Efua Houadjeto, for urgent consultations.
In a letter dated Thursday, 22nd October 2026, and addressed to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Abeiku said the challenge was affecting his ability to obtain timely guidance, approvals and decisions needed to carry out his responsibilities, particularly in domestic tourism, special events and marketing. “On several occasions, I have had to request meetings through the CEO’s secretary or personal assistant, only to be informed that she is unavailable,” he stated. He acknowledged the demands on the CEO’s schedule but said the situation had made it difficult for him to perform his duties effectively.
He also stressed that his concerns were not intended as a personal complaint but were aimed at addressing what he considers a communication gap within the institution. Abeiku has consequently asked the Minister to intervene to help establish a more effective arrangement for communication and consultation between himself and the CEO, particularly on urgent official matters. “I therefore respectfully seek your intervention, with the knowledge of the Board Chairperson, to help establish a more effective communication and consultation arrangement between the CEO and my office, especially on urgent official matters,” he stated.
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