The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has stepped up preparations for December in GH 2026, engaging event organisers, tourism operators and state security agencies to strengthen safety and security arrangements ahead of the festive season.
The stakeholder engagement brought together representatives of the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, National Ambulance Service, National Security and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), who briefed industry players on the measures being implemented to ensure safe and incident-free celebrations.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for event organisers, vendors, tour operators and car rental companies to seek clarification on regulatory requirements, raise concerns and engage the relevant authorities on issues that could affect their operations during the season.
Addressing participants, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the GTA in charge of Operations, Ekow Sampson, said December in GH had evolved from a tourism promotion initiative into a major national platform for tourism, entertainment, culture, hospitality and business.
He traced the initiative to Ghana’s historic Year of Return in 2019, which attracted global attention and strengthened the country’s position as a preferred destination for the African diaspora.
Highlighting the initiative’s growth, Sampson disclosed that the GTA endorsed more than 150 events in 2025, attracting an estimated 55 percent domestic visitors and 45 percent diaspora visitors.
He noted, however, that the success of December in GH should not be measured solely by the number of events organised or visitors attracted, but also by the quality, safety and overall experience of visitors.
” We must also ensure that our visitors enjoy safe, secure, orderly and memorable experiences,” he stressed.
Sampson urged event organisers to engage the relevant state institutions early in their planning processes, particularly on security, crowd control, traffic management, fire prevention, emergency medical preparedness, immigration requirements and tax obligations.
He further emphasised the need for event venues to meet the necessary safety standards, with appropriate emergency response arrangements and all statutory permits secured ahead of scheduled activities.
He called on the various institutions to provide the necessary guidance and support to organisers, stressing that delivering a successful December in GH required partnership, coordination and shared responsibility.
On security, personnel from National Security urged event organisers and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and pay close attention to activities and objects that could pose potential threats during public gatherings.
They highlighted the importance of the existing “See Something, Say Something” campaign and introduced the SALUTE initiative as an additional tool to help members of the public identify and report suspicious activities.
The acronym SALUTE provides a framework for reporting potential security threats:
- S – Size: Size and specific features of an object.
- A – Activity: The activity observed.
- L – Location: Where the suspicious activity or object is located.
- U – Uniform: Description of any uniform worn by individuals involved.
- T – Time: When the activity occurred.
- E – Equipment: Equipment or materials observed.
The public was also encouraged to make use of emergency contact numbers, including 999 and the toll-free number 18555, to report emergencies and potential security concerns.
Representatives of the other security institutions also outlined their respective preparedness measures, with the Ghana Revenue Authority providing guidance on applicable tax obligations for event organisers during the festive period.
Deputy Director of GTA in charge of Marketing and Special Events, Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment, alongside its institutional partners, to delivering a safe, vibrant and memorable December in GH.
He said the security agencies were working to ensure that the environment remained safe for residents, tourists and all visitors participating in the festivities.
This year’s December in GH programme is expected to feature approximately 150 GTA-endorsed events spanning arts, culture, heritage, music, food, fashion and entertainment, among other areas.
With Ghana expecting an influx of visitors during the yuletide, the stakeholder engagement forms part of broader efforts to strengthen coordination among industry players and state institutions, ensuring that the country’s festive-season tourism offering is matched by effective safety measures and a positive visitor experience.
