Maame Efua Houadjeto Highlights 25 Years of Experience in Tourism, Hospitality and Events Amid Questions Over Her Industry Credentials

Maame Efua Houadjeto has defended her professional background and longstanding involvement in Ghana’s tourism, hospitality and creative events industry, insisting that her experience spans more than 25 years and covers several key areas of the sector.

Her comments come amid discussions and criticism over her suitability to lead an organisation within the tourism and creative arts sector, with some questioning whether her professional background is sufficiently connected to the industry.

In a detailed account of her career, Maame Efua said she had spent more than two decades organising and managing corporate events, exhibitions, marketing activities, investment forums, business-to-business (B2B) engagements and other major industry programmes.

She also said she had published magazines focused on property and construction, adding to her experience in media, communications, and business development.

Among the major events she has been involved in was the historic effort to bring American singer Akon to Ghana for the first time. She said she helped make the event possible, highlighting her involvement in large-scale entertainment and event production.

Although she initially studied journalism, she later expanded her academic and professional knowledge through studies in project management, followed by a master’s degree in governance and leadership.

According to her, she discovered a natural passion for hospitality, which eventually influenced her decision to move from tour operations into hospitality and event management.

Her experience in tourism also included managing high-profile international visitors such as Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and Akbar Muhammad, who brought large groups of visitors to Ghana.

She further recounted working with several African-American associations whose members travelled to Ghana, many of them visiting the country for the first time.

Maame Efua also claimed that her company was the first to host a Princess Cruises ship in Ghana, describing it as another significant milestone in her contribution to the country’s tourism and hospitality industry.

She maintained that her involvement in the sector goes beyond organising events, arguing that her work has contributed to promoting Ghana as a destination and advancing professionalism within the hospitality industry.

Her professional experience also includes a period at Charterhouse, where she worked in client services, contributed to the organisation of the maiden edition of the Ghana Music Awards and managed several local and international accounts.

The experience, she suggested, further strengthened her understanding of the creative industry, particularly in event organisation, client relations, entertainment and stakeholder management.

Reacting to the criticism surrounding her leadership, Maame Efua expressed disappointment that questions about her professional suitability appeared to be influenced by her gender.

She lamented that, despite the years she had invested in the industry and the experience she had accumulated, some men still struggled with the idea of a woman leading an organisation.

“It’s disheartening to see that after all these years, some men still can’t stand having a woman lead an organisation. Unbelievable… SMH,” she stated.

Her response places renewed attention on the debate over professional experience, industry knowledge and the qualifications expected of individuals appointed to leadership positions in Ghana’s tourism and creative arts sector.

While questions about leadership appointments and sector-specific expertise remain important, Maame Efua’s account presents a career that cuts across tourism, hospitality, entertainment, corporate events, publishing and international visitor management.

Her position is that her more than 25 years of practical involvement in these areas should be considered when assessing her connection to the industry and her capacity to contribute to its growth.