TELEFONIKA supports tourism awards with GHc30,000

Telefonika, a mobile phone handset dealer, yesterday presented a cheque for GHc30,000 to the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in support of the organisation of this year’s National Tourism Awards.

The awards ceremony, which is scheduled for December 13, 2013, at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra, is aimed at celebrating excellence in the tourism industry.

The General Manager of Telefonika, Nana Ama Amoakoh, who presented the cheque, said it was a great privilege for the company to associate itself with excellence in the industry.

She said the gesture was the beginning of her company’s commitment to support the National Tourism Awards.

The Administrative Manager of Telefonika, Mr Mohamad Khalife, said the donation formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.

He expressed the hope that the gesture would build the foundation for cordial relations between Telefonika and the GTA.

The acting Chief Executive of the GTA, Mr Sampson Donkoh, who received the cheque, thanked Telefonika for the gesture and expressed the hope that other institutions and individuals would emulate the example.

The Events Manager at the GTA, Mr Anane Nsiah, said the objective of the National Tourism Awards was to promote quality and excellence in the tourism industry.

He said the GTA had a mandate to enforce standards and that was why industry players that did not measure up to the requirements were closed down.

He said there was also the need to reward those who performed excellently.

Mr Nsiah said 20 awards would be presented in competitive categories exclusive to operators in the tourism industry and non-competitive categories for those who provided support services.

He said there would also be Life Time awards for individuals and organisations that had made significant contributions to the tourism sector over the years.

Mr Nsiah said the selection of award winners was apolitical, adding that the GTA would not mind giving all the awards to operators from one particular region, without recourse to regional balance, if they deserved the honour.

He said the National Tourism Awards would be organised on a rotational basis across the 10 regions.

By Kofi Yeboah/Ghana