Formulate anti-sexual harassment policies to ensure zero tolerance in hospitality sector – Prof Christopher Mensah

The Pro Vice-Chancellor of Ho Technical University, Prof Christopher Mensah, has advocated for hotels to formulate strict policies to ensure zero tolerance for sexual harassment and maltreatment in the hospitality sector.

He asserted that these vices may lead to a shortfall in human resources and compromised working and educational environments, among other consequences.

He said that failing to curb these unfortunate behaviours, which are bred mostly in training institutions, would affect the sector’s productivity and growth.

Prof Mensah was speaking at his inaugural lecture at the G.M. Afeti Auditorium of Ho Technical University, themed “Hidden curriculum toxic socialisation in Ghana’s higher education and hospitality sectors”.

Academic portfolio

Prof Christopher Mensah, a professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management, obtained his Bachelor of Science in Tourism in 1999 and his M.Phil. in Tourism in 2007 from the University of Cape Coast.

He joined Ho Technical University in 2008, rose through the ranks, became an associate professor in 2020 and was subsequently promoted to the rank of professor in March 2025, with 65 peer-reviewed publications, among other achievements, to his credit.

Sexual harassment and maltreatment are global phenomena

In his inaugural address, Prof Christopher Mensah indicated that sexual harassment and maltreatment are global phenomena, with recorded occurrences in educational institutions and tourism and hospitality facilities.

He said that date requests were the most common form of sexual harassment and maltreatment recorded, followed by uncomfortable touching, sexual conversation, requests for sexual favours, attempts to kiss or fondle, rewards promised for sex, faster promotion in exchange for sex, and threats of dismissal.

He further indicated that records showed that guests were most likely to sexually harass workers in the hospitality and tourism sector, while co-workers and supervisors were also responsible for a proportion of harassment cases.

He asserted that individuals begin learning the habit of using power to bully or coerce their subordinates into doing their bidding in training institutions.

He used the lecturer-student relationship as a case study, recounting how some lecturers use their authority to make sexual demands, coupled with threats of academic failure, among other forms of coercion.

Recommended approach for universities

Prof Christopher Mensah called on lecturers to cultivate the habit of teaching authoritatively, without verbal abuse, aggression or excessively high standards, among other harmful practices.

He also entreated university management to reform examination guidelines by introducing transparent marking schemes, providing options for second marking and establishing a fair appeals system.

He called for guidelines to restrict lecturers from requesting personal services from students, establish robust reporting, investigation and accountability structures, and ensure “regular climate surveys; counselling; staff development.”

“Mistreatment and harassment are common in Ghana’s universities and hospitality workplaces, and are sustained by power, dependency and silence rather than by a few individuals. Hospitality students meet them earlier and more often, mostly from those who teach them. Universities carry a double responsibility: to prepare students for the industry, and to stop passing on its worst habits”, he said.

Recommended approach for hotels

Prof Mensah advocated that hotel management introduce and display policies emphasising the facility’s zero tolerance for sexual harassment and maltreatment.

“The hotel management must adopt and display a policy that states the hotel’s position on zero tolerance with posters and leaflets in all areas”, he said.

He also suggested training complaints-handling staff to act on complaints, including those from and about guests, while protecting young women working in reception and food and beverage areas, as they are more vulnerable to harassment.

He said another essential measure was to reduce reliance on tips by paying approved minimum wages to provide workers with financial security.

Recommended approach for the Ghana Tourism Authority

Prof Mensah entreated the Ghana Tourism Authority to make anti-harassment policy a requirement for licensing or renewals, urging it to support lower-star hotels in developing such policies.

He also called on the authority to enforce the payment of the minimum wage to hotel staff and train staff in how to prevent and report sexual harassment and maltreatment.

Call to students

He entreated students not to let anyone trample on their rights, to use trusted channels to report sexual harassment and to keep records of such incidents, including dates, places and witnesses.

“Support your peers; speak up when you see mistreatment/sexual harassment. Break the cycle; when you hold power, do not repeat what you suffered”, he counselled.

The Vice-Chancellor of Ho Technical University, Prof Ben Honyenuga, eulogised Prof Christopher Mensah for his contribution to shaping hospitality and tourism education and the sector.

“Prof Mensah has made significant contributions to advance fields including Tourism Development, Hospitality Management, and Human Resource Management, academic integrity, and sustainable tourism management, employee well-being, student development and industry resilience”, he listed, among other contributions.