Ghana has formally begun promoting Mr. Muhammad Adam’s candidacy for the 2026–2029 term as Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The election will be held on May 29–30, 2025, during the 123rd session of the UNWTO Executive Council in Madrid.
There are six applicants for the position, including Mr. Adam, a seasoned Ghanaian diplomat. The incumbent Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili (Georgia), who is running for a third term, is one of the other candidates, along with Shaikha Al Nowais (United Arab Emirates), Habib Ammar (Tunisia), Gloria Guevara (Mexico), Harry Theoharis (Greece), and others.
President John Dramani Mahama has actively promoted Mr. Adam’s candidacy in an effort to win over foreign voters. In a recent speech to the diplomatic community in Accra, President Mahama emphasized Ghana’s dedication to promoting international tourism through strong leadership at the UNWTO and urged support from other countries.
A candidate must get the support of at least 18 of the Executive Council’s 35 member nations in order to advance through the selection process. For ultimate confirmation, the elected candidate will subsequently be presented to the UNWTO General Assembly, which is scheduled to meet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 7–11, 2025.
Ghana’s campaign demonstrates its commitment to playing a significant part in determining the direction of international travel, and Mr. Adam’s wealth of diplomatic experience makes him an excellent choice to guide the UNWTO into its next phase.
A team from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, headed by Minister Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, was joined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attend the 2nd UN Tourism Africa-Americas Summit, which took place in Livingstone, Zambia, from April 8–10, 2025.
The crew stopped in South Africa on the way to Livingstone in order to meet with the South African Foreign Ministry (DIRCO) and solicit support.
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