Mr Ekow Sampson, President of the Senior Staff Association of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) has said that effective and efficient human resource was the backbone for the development of every business
organization.

He has therefore appealed to government to train the staff of the board to sustain the industry.

Mr Sampson was addressing the opening of the 6th Biennial Congress of the Senior Staff Association of the GTB at Akyawkrom, near Ejisu, in Ashanti Region at the weekend.

The Congress attended by over 60 delegates selected from all over the country, was under theme “Quality Human Resource the Means Towards an Accelerated Tourism Development”.

He said with the current global challenges and changing trend in the tourism industry, demands continuous training for the staff as an essential panacea for sustainable growth of the industry.

Mr Sampson urged the government to up-grade the skills of personnel in the private sector such as hotels, catering, travel and tours, operations to help improve their knowledge in areas including tourism policy, development, planning, marketing and others.

He expressed regret that the GTB had for the past eight years operated without Board of Directors and called on government as a matter of urgency to establish the Board of Directors to oversee operations.

The President also appealed to the government to revisit the proposed Tourism Development Fund without delay and provide funding for the speedy development of the tourism industry.

Mr Solomon Asiedu, Co-ordinating Director of the Ejisu Municipal Assembly, said the Yaa Asantewaa Museum at Ejisu in Ashanti Region which was once a popular tourist centre was now in deplorable conditions as a result of fire which gutted the centre a few years ago.

He therefore appealed to the Board to assist the Ejisu Municipal Assembly to rehabilitate the Centre to increase tourists to the area.

The Co-ordinating Director also urged GTB to help develop the Bonwire Kente Industry and the Butterfly Sanctuary at the Bobri Forest so as to entice more tourists to improve the incomes of the Assembly.

Mr Charles Osei Bonsu, Deputy Executive Director of the GTB in-charge of Finance and Administration, asked the delegates to use the occasion to take stock of their activities and adopt effective and pragmatic measures to improve on their performances.


Source: GNA
GNA