The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has warned hotels, car rental firms, tour operators and transport providers against inflating prices ahead of the 2026 December in GH festive season.
Officials issued the caution during a stakeholder engagement in Accra on Tuesday, November 10, as diaspora travellers and residents budget for the cost of transport, fuel, data and the cedi this December. The meeting brought together hoteliers, car rental companies, tour operators, event organisers and vendors.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Marketing and Special Duties at the GTA, Gilbert Abeiku “Santana” Aggrey, said unreasonable rate hikes during peak demand reduce hotel occupancy and damage Ghana’s reputation as a holiday destination.
“To our hotel operators who take advantage of the festivities and overprice, please, it doesn’t make sense if you increase your room rates to $100 and you don’t even get four or five occupancies,” Aggrey said. “Let us be moderate, break even, but do not overprice.”
The Ghana Tourism Authority is the state regulator set up by the Tourism Act, 2011 (Act 817), covering tour guides, hotels, restaurants, event organisers, travel and tour firms, car rentals, hostels and home lodges nationwide.
Aggrey urged commercial drivers and hospitality staff to maintain cleanliness, hygiene and customer service for visitors arriving through Kotoka International Airport this Christmas, building on the authority’s recent drive sensitising commercial taxi drivers.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations at the GTA, Ekow Sampson, said the authority endorsed more than 150 events in 2025, drawing an estimated 55 per cent domestic patrons and 45 per cent diaspora visitors.
About 150 endorsed events are lined up for the 2026 season, which runs from December 1, 2026 to January 3, 2027 under the theme “Ghana to the World”.
“The Ghana Tourism Authority cannot achieve the objectives of December in GH working alone,” Sampson said, urging event organisers to secure statutory permits and venue safety clearances early alongside the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, National Ambulance Service, Ghana Immigration Service and Ghana Revenue Authority.
Visitors and patrons can reach the GTA’s Accra Tourist Information and Call Centre at South Ridge on +233 (0) 302 985 069 or +233 (0) 579 579 019 and via [email protected], while National Security advised event-goers to report security emergencies on 999 or the toll-free line 18555.
