CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTS OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM EDUCATION IN GHANA (A CASE FOR GREATER ACCRA METROPOLITAN AREA)

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of this thesis was to examine the challenges and constraints of hospitality and tourism education in Ghana. It was specifically directed towards identifying factors hindering the development of hospitality and tourism education in Ghana, exploring the effectiveness of competency skills learnt in school and it relevant to the job market and the significant of a closer industry/academe relationship for hospitality and tourism development in Ghana. The study employed descriptive research design and made use of mixed methods as such both qualitative and quantitative techniques for data collection and analyses were used. A non-probability cross-sectional survey was used to sample 76 graduate employees from three hotels in Accra, in addition to 9 lecturers from Accra Polytechnic. Three in-depth interviews were conducted in totality, two from line managers or supervisors from the hotels and an head of department. Chi-square, Correlation and Phi Coefficient of Association were the main tests and analytical tools used in this study. The study revealed that, indeed factors such as educators not providing realistic information to students leading to “reality shock” when they enter the industry, hospitality and tourism education and training not corresponding to industry’s career path in Ghana, unrealistic career expectations leading to early exit by graduates and lack of resources allocation and support are militating against the development of hospitality and tourism in Ghana. Again, it came out that most hotels employ more polytechnic graduates than graduates from the universities. The policy implications here is that the polytechnic should be encouraged to stick to their core mandate of providing practical and technical training to meet the needs of the industry.