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GTA shuts down 6 hospitality businesses; over 200 risk closure over non-compliance with regulatory standards
GTA shuts down 6 hospitality businesses; over 200 risk closure over non-compliance with regulatory standards
By: Abigail | 5 mins read
Non-compliance with regulatory standards by businesses in the hospitality industry has led to the closure of six (6) establishments by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).
The Ghana Tourism Authority has commenced a one-month compliance exercise, and on the first day, Tuesday, July 29, six facilities—Champion International Hotel, located at Santasi; Nana Sarbeng Memorial Hotel, at Dichemso; Chasfab Guest House, at Duase; Ayigya Hotel, at Ayigya; Saga City Hostel, also located at Ayeduase; and Lienda Ville Hostel, at Ayeduase—were put out of business. Patrons have since been cautioned to avoid these tagged facilities.
Closure tags were affixed to the entrances, signalling shutdowns for failing to meet requirements under legislative instruments L.I. 2238 and 2239, and cautioning the public to stay away. L.I. 2238 deals with registration and licensing of accommodation regulations, whereas L.I. 2239 deals with registration and licensing of food, beverage, and entertainment enterprises.
The Ghana Tourism Authority announced the exercise in a press briefing held at Miklin Hotel in Kumasi on Monday, July 28, where it disclosed its scope and the urgency of the enforcement exercise aimed at clamping down on illegal tourism enterprises.
At the conference, the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Frederick Adjei-Rudolph, warned that “no tourism enterprise is permitted by law to operate without a valid operational license issued by the Ghana Tourism Authority. Licenses from other agencies are not a substitute for GTA certification.”
Mr. Adjei-Rudolph also noted that some operators had repeatedly ignored compliance notices and even threatened enforcement officers. He stressed, “This exercise is not meant to punish, but to protect both consumers and compliant businesses from the negative impact of illegal operators. A regulated and safe tourism environment is key to our collective success.”
The exercise has been initiated to clamp down on over 200 unlicensed and substandard tourism facilities, including hotels, guest houses, hostels, and entertainment centres operating in breach of the Tourism Act 817 of 2011.
The regulatory compliance taskforce targets hotels, guest houses, food and beverage joints, recreational centres, and travel trade joints breaching key regulatory requirements and operating under the blind oversight of the Authority.
According to reports, upon GTA’s interaction with many facility caretakers, they appeared completely naive of the industry’s minimum regulatory requirements and the breaches they were perpetrating. At some locations, caretakers fled upon spotting the enforcement team. Others offered no justification for their non-compliance, having ignored previous warnings and notices.
Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Frederick Adjei-Rudolph, expressed disappointment and concerns at the findings, quizzing why consumers patronise these substandard facilities despite their poor, substandard service and unsafe places.
"A major worry from this operation is the exposure to the many substandard facilities we have in Ghana. We are doing our best for the facilities to operate within the minimum standard, but it looks like some of them are just not willing. Another shock is that the guests are okay with the services they receive. So they don't protest.”
He says the Authority cannot guarantee the safety and security of patrons using unlicensed or unregulated facilities. "These categories of illegal operators are the most dangerous to patronise by unsuspecting clients because no form of assessment has been done by any regulatory body, and therefore, safety and security cannot be guaranteed in such facilities," he said.
The Ghana Tourism Authority has vowed to maintain its intensified efforts to clamp down on substandard businesses until the hospitality landscape in Ghana reflects internationally accepted safety and operational standards.
"The regulation is backed by the law. And we want to make sure operators are compliant and are operating on a fair and level playing field so that, whilst others do the right thing, others also get away with doing the wrong things," he said.
The Ghana Tourism Authority in May embarked on a cleanup exercise at the National Park, located near the Accra Sports Stadium and Independence Square. The initiative, spearheaded by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Gilbert Abeiku Santana Aggrey, brought together key figures, including Jones Aruna Nelson, Director of Corporate Affairs, and Nana Agyenim Boateng, Director of Administration. They were joined by local volunteers and the civic group, Bus Stop Boyz, to restore the cleanliness and vibrancy of the symbolic national park.
In appreciation of their efforts, the Ghana Tourism Authority lauded the Bus Stop Boyz for their patriotic spirit in supporting the maintenance of public spaces. Speaking to journalists after the exercise, Mr. Aggrey emphasised the critical need for inter-agency collaboration to preserve Ghana’s historical landmarks.
“We call on the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly and all MMDAs to prioritise the cleanliness, safety, and eco-friendliness of our historic structures. Under H.E. John Dramani Mahama’s Reset Agenda, GTA is fully committed to protecting, marketing, and maintaining all tourism sites to offer a world-class experience to every visitor," he stated.
Meanwhile, His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama charged the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, to organise a special event to celebrate veteran highlife musician Agya Koo Nimo. He made the call during the launch of the Blackstar Experience held on Thursday, May 1, at the Blackstar Square in Accra.
After enjoying a performance by the Legon Palmwine Band at the event, the president used the opportunity to acknowledge Agya Koo Nimo, who is known as one of the pioneers of palmwine music in Ghana. "We watched the palmwine music and I asked if the King of Palmwine music was still alive - Agya Koo Nimo, and I hear he is alive. This is a man we must honour before he passes. Because that was a genre of music that has become a part of our musical archive and our folklore. For people like this, we should not wait till they die and we go and cry at their funerals," he said.
The President, therefore, proposed that a ceremony be held to celebrate the music legend. "So wherever Agya Koo Nimo is, Dzifa, you and your team should organise some ceremony, let's honour him. I know he has been honoured in the past. Let's honour him again before God calls him," he said.
