GTA CEO and deputy’s clash sends the wrong signal; both parties should resolve their differences – Fiifi Boafo

Former Public Affairs Head at COCOBOD, Fiifi Boafo, has urged the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and deputy of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Maame Efua Houadjeto and Abeiku Santana, to swiftly resolve their recent communication dispute. In an interview on Joy News, Mr Boafo questioned the underlying issues that drove the deputy CEO to seek assistance from the sector minister regarding his access to the chief executive.

He described Santana as a likable person who gets along well with others and expressed worry that the situation appears to send an unfavorable signal about GTA's leadership. Boafo emphasized the urgency of addressing the matter to ensure both officials can collaborate effectively. He added that if Santana's grievances were valid, steps should be taken to rectify them; however, if the problem originated from the deputy CEO, it would also be the CEO's responsibility to address.

Boafo's remarks came after Santana wrote to Tourism Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie on October 22, seeking intervention over persistent difficulties in arranging meetings with the CEO. Santana explained that despite multiple attempts to meet through the CEO's staff, he was repeatedly informed that they were unavailable. He stressed that this impeded his ability to receive timely guidance, approvals, and decisions necessary for his role, sometimes leading to operational delays and hindering stakeholder engagements and the implementation of key initiatives.

Santana aimed to highlight a communication gap requiring attention for effective governance and organizational efficiency. In response, Houadjeto expressed surprise and disappointment over Santana's concerns, insisting she maintains an open-door policy for executive and senior management personnel. The CEO acknowledged the importance of efficient communication and prompt decision-making, proposing measures to enhance coordination between the two offices.

These measures included scheduled executive consultations, a clear escalation process for urgent matters, improved meeting request coordination, clearer delegation of responsibilities, and regular executive team engagement. Houadjeto proposed an immediate meeting with her deputy to agree on practical arrangements for implementing these measures.