Ghana needs a dedicated hospitality school to improve standards – Ridge Royal Hotel MD

Sheila Adjetey-Anum, Managing Director of Ridge Royal Hotel in Cape Coast, has advocated for the creation of a dedicated hospitality school in Ghana. The purpose of such an institution, she argued, is to provide practical skills to hospitality workers to enhance service delivery. Ms Adjetey-Anum expressed concern that existing university programs often prioritize classroom learning over the hands-on experience required to meet international standards.

She stated that a specialised school would enhance the university programs by offering practical, industry-relevant training. According to her, such a school would equip students with first-hand experience in real-world hospitality operations, preparing them for the demands of the job market. She emphasized that a dedicated hotel school would complement and not replace existing university programs, highlighting the difference between theoretical knowledge and practical practice.

Ms Adjetey-Anum stressed that such an institution would help workers understand professional service standards and enable Ghana’s hospitality industry to compete more effectively on the global stage. She questioned how Ghana can meet international expectations without adequate training facilities. The call for a dedicated hospitality school came as industry stakeholders gathered for the iNTTA Expo in Cape Coast, focusing on investment opportunities across various sectors of the tourism and hospitality industry.

The expo's theme for the second day was "From Vision to Transactions," emphasizing the importance of turning ideas into tangible business opportunities.