Ghana Tourism Authority Locks 31 Hospitality Facilities In E/R Over Non Compliance
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has closed down 31 facilities in the Eastern Region including hotels, guest houses, hostels, restaurants, bars and motels, for not having operational licenses from the GTA, under a special enforcement exercise nationwide.
The GTA is authorized and entrusted to register and license every tourism business and hospitality facility in Ghana, in accordance with the tourism Act 817 and spells out the function and role of the GTA as a regulatory body, which includes inspection and classification of all tourism and hospitality enterprises.
The Eastern Regional Manager, Mr. Fredrick Adjei Rudolph speaking to Peace FM’s Eastern Regional Correspondent, Michael Akrofi disclosed that “ the service delivery and safety of patrons to these tourism facilities cannot be taken for granted thus the Ghana Tourism Authority with strict adherence to its mandate and responsibility to maintain standards in compliance with ACT 817, has embarked on an Enforcement Exercise to clamp down on all illegally operating facilities across the Region. Physical closure of all identified Accommodation and Catering establishments that are operating without a Valid Operational License issued by the Ghana Tourism Authority was carried out without fear or favor.”
Below is the statement below;
UPDATE ON 2019 ENFORCEMENT EXERCISE - EASTERN REGION
The Ghana Tourism Authority is authorized and entrusted to register and licence every tourism business and hospitality facility in Ghana by Tourism Act (817) and its relevant Legislative Instruments L.I. 2238 TOURISM REGULATIONS, 2016 (REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF FOOD, BEVERAGE AND ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISE) and L.I. 2239 TOURISM REGULATIONS 2016 (REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF TOURIST ACCOMMODATION ENTERPRISE). This ACT also spells out the function and role of the Authority as a regulatory body which includes but not limited to the inspection and classification of all tourism and hospitality enterprises.
As a regulator of a service industry that is aimed at projecting the image of the country in a positive light, it is important to maintain and instill sanity in the industry by ensuring that operators comply with the rules, standards and laws that govern it whiles potential operators also meet all legal requirements to be able to practice.
Service delivery and safety of patrons to these tourism facilities cannot be taken for granted thus the Ghana Tourism Authority with strict adherence to its mandate and responsibility to maintain standards in compliance with ACT 817, has embarked on an Enforcement Exercise to clamp down on all illegally operating facilities across the Region. Physical closure of all identified Accommodation and Catering establishments that are operating without a Valid Operational License issued by the Ghana Tourism Authority was carried out without fear or favor.
The exercise was carried out over a span of three days from the 25th June 2019 to 27th June 2019. Three teams comprising of both the National and Regional Enforcement Task Force from the Authority aided by very professional officers from the Regional police command were deployed to different parts of the region for the exercise.
By close of business on Thursday 27th June 2019, a total number of thirty one (31) facilities have been visited by the team for physical closure, and are listed below:
Name of unit Location 1 Lambert Court Hostel Brekusu 2 Ceewus Hostel Brekusu 3 Madiba Hostel Captain Atuobi Junct. Koforidua 4 Greater Grace Guest House Kwabeng 5 Reggie Boat Hotel Osabene Koforidua 6 Elite Hostel Koforidua 7 Hostel 99 Rastadown, Koforidua 8 Quest Lodge & Hostel Brekusu 9 Cozy View Hotel Kyebi 10 Riches of Glory Guest House Kyekyewere 11 Star Gate Hotel Kwahu Nteso 12 Soul Restaurant Kyebi 13 Bodua Corner Apirede 14 Hosannah Hostel Brekusu 15 Supreme Hostel Koforidua 16 Frontline Hostel Koforidua 17 Royal Gate Guest House Nankese 18 Mebendesly Lodge Begoro 19 Royal Asaase Hotel Asesewa 20 Shai Hills Hotel Ogorme, Somanya 21 FT Lodge Klo Agogo, Boti Falls 22 American Guest House Asuotwene, Adeiso 23 Eno Agyeiwaa Guest House Asuotwene, Adeiso 24 Lavco Guest House Nsawam 25 Graceland Luxury Guest House Akim Oda 26 Macdorini Guest House Pankese 27 7 Souls Hotel Akim Oda 28 Royal Masters Lodge Akim Oda 29 Omama Hotel Asuom 30 Amadu Guest House Akoase 31 Dady’s Motel Nkawkaw
However, immediately after their closure, some units such as,Reggie Boat Hotel, Koforidua, Cozy View Hotel, Kyebi, Soul Restaurant,Kyebi, Richies of Glory Guest House,Kyekyewere, Supreme Hostel – Koforidua and Mebendesly Lodge- Begoro quicklyvisited the office of the Authority in Koforidua, paid the necessary stipulated fees and are currently going through the documentary process of regularizing their operations.
The Regional Task force will sustain the enforcement exercise throughout the year to weed out all illegally operating tourism and hospitality facilities in the region. Beyond the fact that, operating a hospitality facility without a valid operational license issued by the Ghana Tourism Authority is an act of illegality, it also bothers on issues of compromising on standardsof facilities, security and safety of patrons. The Ghana Tourism Authority will therefore marshal all its resources to ensure that all operators that have complied and licensed by the Authority work in a very congenial atmosphere and supported accordingly, while those that constantly flout the law will be made to face the full rigors of the law.
An effective collaboration of major tourism and hospitality stakeholders i.e. regulators, operators, sister regulatory and enforcement agencies, the media and the general public is essential for the success of the Tourism industry. It is our hope that this partnership continues to wax strong to weed out recalcitrant illegal operators and advance confidence in the tourism industry in the years ahead.
We entreat all patrons of hospitality facilities to always look out for the Ghana Tourism Authority’s valid operational license (validity is 1st January to 31st December) which is supposed to be boldly displayed at the reception. Facilities without operational license must not be patronized.
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