Support to mitigate the impact of COVID19 on businesses and workers in the tourism and hospitality sector in Ghana
The ILO organized capacity building workshops for members of the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) to help mitigating the impacts of the COVID19 pandemic on the Ghanaian tourism and hospitality sector. At the end of training, participants were equipped with knowledge and skills that will be shared with their colleagues and put into practice to support re-starting their operations while securing jobs. It is estimated that this initiative will benefit over five thousand members of the GATHOF, contributing to secure over fifteen thousand jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Kumasi, Ghana (ILO News): The International Labour Organization (ILO) under SKILL UP Project, funded by the Government of Norway, held, in collaboration with GHATOF, 4-days capacity building workshops to support the mitigation of the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic on businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector in southern and middle Ghana. These workshops, organized from October 12–16 in Dodowa and from October 19-23 in Kumasi, focus on knowledge sharing and skills development in the following areas: business recovery plan, digital marketing post COVID-19, health and safety at work, risk preparedness and management, and supply chain and stock control management. They were opportunities to restore hope and confidence among participants, leading them to take steps to assist workers at immediate risk of losing their livelihoods.
In her opening address, Mrs. Bella Ayayee Ahu, President of GHATOF, underscored the importance of capacity building in helping members to get their businesses back up and running. She conveyed GHATOF’s appreciation of the ILO’s role in supporting the capacity building sessions. She also mentioned that the ILO was the first organization that has responded to their requests for support.
Mr. Frank Kwasi Adetor, National Project Coordinator of Skill UP Ghana project, noted the conviction of the ILO that this support will help the tourism and hospitality sector to apply the acquired knowledge and skills to ensure a rapid recovery from the ravaging effects of the COVID19 crisis.
Mr. Adetor further noted that the ILO aims to continue to support the sector through the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skills Body, set up by the ILO in collaboration with the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), to build a strong skills systems that responds to the needs of this industry sector in Ghana.
At the end of the training, participants were equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills that will be shared with their colleagues and put into practice to re-start businesses operations and help securing job. It is estimated that this training will benefit over five thousand members and secure over fifteen thousand jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry.
SKILL UP Project
SKILL UP Ghana project, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is part of a program to strengthen countries skills systems, currently also under implementation in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi and Senegal.
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