The Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra has launched its Green Stay Initiative, setting a new benchmark for sustainable hospitality in Ghana and the wider West African region.
The event, held at the hotel’s premises, brought together leading voices from government, business, and the sustainability community, all united in a shared vision for an eco-conscious future in tourism and hospitality.
General Manager of Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra, Isaac Okpoti Adjei, Esq., urged the industry to embrace sustainability not as a buzzword, but as an operational imperative and moral responsibility.
Mr Adjei outlined a bold vision to redefine the guest experience through “conscious luxury” where comfort meets conscience and every stay contributes positively to people and planet.
“Our guests no longer ask only for leisure and luxury,” he explained. “They ask for experiences that are meaningful and sustainable.”
He noted that across the Accor Group, which operates over 5,700 hotels in more than 110 countries, sustainability is now woven into core business operations.
A striking 88% of properties have already eliminated over 50 single-use plastic products, reflecting a global shift away from wasteful practices.
He noted that The Green Stay Initiative is more than a hotel programme, it is a call to transform the entire hospitality ecosystem.
At Mövenpick Accra, sustainability is already embedded in energy-efficient lighting, smart water systems, food waste reduction, and local sourcing. But Mr Adjei was unequivocal: hotels cannot go it alone.
“Sustainability must not be limited to hotel walls,” he said. “It must shape how we design, build, procure, train, and engage — across our entire value chain.”
He explained how Mövenpick is aligning its supply partners with international sustainability standards and rethinking procurement to support circular economies and carbon-conscious practices.
With over 200 million meals served annually by Accor worldwide, Mr Adjei noted the power and responsibility held by the sector to influence food systems and guest choices.
Mr Adjei emphasised the urgent need for local action in the face of climate change and urbanisation.
“We at Mövenpick consider ourselves custodians of Ghana’s natural beauty and heritage. To protect this legacy, eco-friendly practices must shape not only hospitality but how we build in this country.”
He praised government efforts to create a regulatory and investment climate that supports green growth, but stressed that collaboration across sectors is essential.
“Sustainability is not achieved by hotels alone. It requires cooperation with government, business partners, suppliers, guests, and communities.”
Speaking as Guest of Honour, Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, lauded Mövenpick’s initiative as a model of private sector leadership aligned with Ghana’s national development goals.
“This is not only about environmental compliance,” he said. “It is about innovation, competitiveness, and long-term value creation in an increasingly sustainability-conscious global tourism market.”
The Minister detailed a number of government measures under the RESET agenda, including:
Tax incentives and duty waivers for green technologies;
Technical support for hospitality businesses from agencies such as the EPA and Energy Commission;
Investment facilitation through the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre for eco-friendly tourism projects.
Looking ahead, he noted that the government has plans to integrate green building standards into all new public infrastructure, promote renewable energy, waste-to-energy solutions, and water recycling, and deepen alignment with climate adaptation strategies.
“The future of sustainable hospitality is not a distant ambition,” he concluded. “It is a present reality that calls for deliberate action today.”
Adding her voice to the occasion, Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, Minister of State for Public Sector Reforms, who gave a speech on behalf of the Tourism Minister
“Tourism is one of Ghana’s most powerful economic engines,” she said, referencing the sector’s $4.8 billion contribution to GDP in 2024. “But it cannot grow at the expense of clean air, safe water, thriving ecosystems and well-preserved heritage.”
She cited coastal erosion in Cape Coast and Keta, the fragile ecosystem at Lake Bosomtwe, and the threats to forest reserves like Kakum and Mole as proof that climate and biodiversity challenges are already altering Ghana’s tourism landscape.
“The Green Stay Initiative is timely and essential,” she said. “It calls on all of us to move beyond business-as-usual, and to place sustainability at the heart of tourism policy, planning and practice.”
As the Green Stay Initiative moves from concept to implementation, Mövenpick has pledged to hold quarterly workshops and collaborate with policy, academic, and industry partners to build capacity across the sector.
Mr Adjei reminded attendees that every small, sustainable decision from reusing towels to sourcing local food can create lasting impact.
“Let us make today the beginning of a new chapter,” he said. “One where sustainability is not a department or a label, but a way of thinking, building, and living.”
