Radia Saani appointed country head of international tourism association

The African Association of Women in Tourism and Hospitality, a USA-Nigeria based tourism organisation, has appointed the CEO of Moontouch Travel Limited, Radia Adama Saani, as its Country Representative for Ghana.

Madam Saani, a founding member and the Head of Corporate Affairs of the Africa Tour Operators Alliance-Ghana (ATOA), has since accepted the appointment and pledged to work with the organisation to turn around the fortunes of women in the sector.

In an interview with journalists concerning the new appointment, she said she would prioritise the welfare of women in the sector by ensuring that their participation in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors is enhanced.

Additionally, she would strive to promote the values and aspirations of the organisation and contribute to the achievement of its goals, drawing from her vast experience in the field and academic prowess.

Referencing the International Labour Organisation (ILO), she indicated that although women make up a large proportion of the formal tourism workforce and are well represented in service and clerical level jobs, they are poorly represented at the professional levels.

“The tourism sector has almost twice as many women employers as other sectors, yet, one in five tourism ministers worldwide are women,” she observed.

Against the background of this situation and its attendant challenges to women in the sector, Madam Saani has pledged her commitment to working with the association to turn the situation around.

The newly-appointed Ghana country representative added that she would focus on the five thematic goals of the Global Report on Women in Tourism.

This includes the provision of decent work for women once the opportunity exists and promoting the entrepreneurship goal of women in tourism businesses to lead women into economic empowerment.

In addition to this is the education and training goal, which would promote gender equality and women empowerment in the sector.

She also intends to address leadership and decision-making, where women are not fully represented and are not influential enough at all levels of the tourism sector.

Regarding the community and civil society goal, Madam Saani said she would work closely with all relevant persons and stakeholders to support women to address gender inequalities in homes and communities.

The organisation has also appointed other country representatives for South Africa, Namibia and Nigeria.

In addition, it appointed the Director of Africa – India Trade Council based in Ghana, Jeremiah Quayson, as a Board Member of the Association.

About Radia Adama Saani

Radia Adama Saani has served in various capacities in the country’s hospitality, tourism, and Aviation industries.

She started her career with the Ghana Airports Company Ltd and later became an In-flight Attendant with Kenya Airways Ltd.

Apart from advancing her aviation and travel industry career, she secured excellent academic credentials in the sector.

She holds a Master’s degree in International Hospitality and Tourism Management from Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom (UK).

She also had her first degree and diploma in similar fields from Université Abdel-Malek Essaadi, Larache in the Kingdom of Morocco, which makes her very fluent in both French and English languages.

She is well resourced in the hospitality industry, having worked as a front desk executive with Travelodge, one of the biggest hotel chain companies in the UK.

She also served as the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Hotel, Catering and  Tourism Training Institute (HOTCATT) under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and a Young Global Leaders Network member.

From childhood, she had always desired to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Africa and beyond, therefore giving birth to the establishment of Moontouch Travel Ltd.

She won the 2020 Travel and Tourism CEO of the year under the Northern Excellence Awards.

Again, her company was adjudged Ghana’s most outstanding Travel and Tour Agency for the year 2020 at West Africa Business Excellence Awards on May 21, 2021.