The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC), Kobby Mensah, has been named among The Place Brand Observer’s (TPBO) 2026 list of “Twelve Leaders Shaping Place Branding Right Now.”

The list, unveiled on April 28, 2026, is compiled annually by TPBO’s expert community to recognise practitioners, policymakers and researchers contributing significantly to the field. Prof. Mensah is the only West African tourism development executive on this year’s list.

According to TPBO, his leadership reflects a blend of academic insight and practical application in destination development, noting that his appointment signals a shift in Ghana’s approach to tourism as part of a broader system linking investment, innovation and experience design.

With this recognition, Prof. Mensah joins the TPBO Who’s Who in Place Branding, a global network of professionals working at the intersection of place strategy and leadership.

Prof Mensah was appointed CEO of GTDC by President John Dramani Mahama. He is also a Professor of Marketing at the University of Ghana Business School and a chartered marketer with the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

He is credited with pioneering digital tourism education in Ghana through the Destination Legon Tourism Marketing Exhibition, an initiative that has encouraged the use of virtual reality, artificial intelligence and immersive storytelling in tourism promotion since 2014.

The Board Chair of GTDC described the recognition as a national achievement, stating that it reflects Ghana’s progress and the direction of government policy.

In response, Prof Mensah said the recognition is a call to action for Ghana to strengthen its tourism sector by mobilising investment, supporting small businesses and improving service delivery through coordinated and evidence-based strategies.

TPBO’s “People to Watch” list highlights individuals whose work advances place branding beyond communication into policy, economic development and long-term value creation.

Other individuals featured on the 2026 list include Abdoulie Jobe, Andres Kask, Klara Enbom Burreau, and Nabeela Farida Tunis.

The Ghana Tourism Development Company is mandated to promote and mobilise resources for investment in tourism ventures, support joint ventures, and provide financial and technical assistance to small businesses in the sector.