The Ghana Tourism Authority has closed down 31 hospitality facilities in the Eastern region.

These facilities, hotels, lodges and hostels in the capital, Koforidua as well as other towns in the region, were operating without valid licenses, according to the Authority.

This followed a three-day Enforcement Exercise carried out by the GTA from June 25 to 27.

Three teams comprising the National and Regional Enforcement Task Force from the Authority, aided by officers from the Regional Police Command, were deployed to different parts of the region for the exercise.

The Authority in a statement copied to Joy News said “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,” the statement.

 

Below is a full copy of the statement:

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 25^th June 2019 to 27^th 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 the close of business on Thursday 27^th June 2019, a total number of thirty-one (31) facilities have been visited by the team for physical closure, and are listed below:

Srl	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 quickly visited 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 Taskforce 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 standards of 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 1^st January to 31^st December) which is supposed to be boldly displayed at the reception. Facilities without an operational license must not be patronized.

 

Signed:

Fredrick Adjei-Rudolph 

Regional Manager, GTA, Koforidua