By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The Hotel Catering and Tourism Training Institute, HOTCATT, and the Association of Business Executives, ABE, to officially launch a new Tourism and Hospitality qualification aimed at building a globally competitive workforce for Ghana’s tourism sector with support from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
The partnership was unveiled on Thursday, August 6, 2026 in Accra at a ceremony themed, “Building a Globally Competitive Tourism Workforce; Advancing Skills, Professionalism & International Qualifications.”
Under the new agreement, HOTCATT will serve as the training institute to develop human capital for the tourism industry, while delivering the ABE Tourism and Hospitality programme. Students who enrol will be equipped in key operational areas including food and beverage service, housekeeping, tour guiding, event management, restaurant management, and front office operations while earning a UK Diploma in Travel tourism and hospitality. With enrolment now open to those with WASSCE, Diploma or Degree certificates and those with at least three years working experience, school is set to begin in October 2026.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, said the initiative was necessary to address the perception among Ghanaian youth that tourism and hospitality is not a viable career path.
“These days, many of our young people think that tourism and hospitality is not a career but it is one of the biggest sectors in the world, and most people think they do not require training to be in the industry,” he stated.
Mr. Aggrey noted that Ghana’s reputation for hospitality continues to attract members of the diaspora who visit the country regularly. He said that level of warmth must now be matched with professional service delivery and internationally recognized qualifications.
According to him, the certificate to be awarded under the HOTCATT-ABE partnership is benchmarked to UK standards, meaning graduates will hold a qualification equivalent to studying in the United Kingdom.
“We need a standard quality of service in our hotels, restaurants, and tour sites. That can only happen if we train our people properly and give them qualifications that are respected globally,” the GTA CEO added, explaining that the programme is not just the introduction of a new academic course but part of a broader strategy to professionalize the sector and position Ghana to compete for tourism business on the international stage.
The ABE Tourism and Hospitality qualification will provide students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, with the goal of producing graduates who can work in Ghana and abroad. Stakeholders from the 13 agencies under the Ministry at the event welcomed the partnership, saying it addresses a long-standing gap in structured training for frontline tourism workers while pledging support for the initiative.
