The Member of Parliament for Sammi Awuku has raised concerns over the appointment of the Chairperson of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) Board, questioning whether the move complies with the Tourism Act, 2011.
In a statement shared on Facebook on Sunday, June 14, Awuku argued that Section 4(1) of the Tourism Act, 2011 (Act 817) clearly states that the Chairperson of the GTA Board must come from the private sector.
According to him, the appointment of Gertrude Emefa Donkor raises legal concerns, as she currently heads GoldBod Jewellery, which he describes as a state-owned institution.
“This is not about personalities. It is about compliance with the law,” Awuku stressed.
He questioned whether a person who leads a public institution, exercises public authority, and manages state resources can still be classified as a private sector representative under the law.
Awuku acknowledged that while Article 70 of Ghana’s Constitution grants the President the power to appoint, such authority must align with laws governing public institutions.
“The Tourism Act did not simply require a Chairperson; it specifically required one from the private sector,” he noted.
The lawmaker also raised concerns over what he described as the growing concentration of public appointments in the hands of a few individuals.
He questioned whether there is a shortage of qualified Ghanaians to occupy key national positions, arguing that the government’s promise of a 24-hour economy and its “1:3:3 formula” aimed at creating more opportunities appears inconsistent with current appointment trends.
Awuku further asked whether there were no qualified professionals within Ghana’s tourism, hospitality, travel, events, and creative arts sectors — including members of the ruling party — who could have been considered for the role.
He also addressed a possible justification that the GTA appointment may have preceded Ms. Donkor’s appointment as Managing Director of GoldBod, insisting that any change in circumstances should still be examined in line with the law.
Calling for clarity, Awuku urged the Presidency and the Ministry of Tourism to explain the basis for the appointment.
“We cannot claim to be strengthening institutions while overlooking provisions deliberately enacted to protect them,” he stated, adding that until clear answers are provided, the appointment will continue to raise questions.
