Members of the Hohoe Zone of the Ghana Hotels Association have lamented what they described as unjustified and unclear billing of permits and processing fees by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

They explained that the Agency has in recent times taken a stance of serving them with fees it was unable to explain how they are arrived at.

Addressing the press in Hohoe, the Zonal Coordinator of the Association, George Ashiagbor, said failure to pay the fees within a stipulated period leads to the locking of hotels by the Agency without recourse.

“In recent months, our members have faced unwarranted scrutiny and unjustified fees from the EPA with unclear billing criteria, with numerous instances of overreach, intimidation, and unlawful locking of our member's facilities at will”, he said.

He disclosed that some of them would have to go to the EPA office in Ho and bargain the permit fee charged before payment was done.

“For instance, they charged a hotel over GH¢4,480 as permit and processing fees, and the owner went to the office and bargained with them.

"It was then reduced, and he paid about GH¢3,342. So, this is what we are fighting against. How did they arrive at that fee? They should explain to us”, he said.

He grieved how the operations of hospitality facilities and the livelihoods of staff are being affected by the unfair treatment of employees of the Agency.

He said hotel owners now operate in fear and uncertainty hence unable to deliver quality services to their guests, which is affecting their revenue.

He added that “excessive regulations and arbitrary by the EPA headed by Hope Smith Lomotey are not only unjust but also detrimental to the growth and sustainability of our hospitality industry in the Hohoe Zone”.

Mr Ashiagbor entreated the EPA to adopt a constructive dialogue to address the legitimate concerns of the hotel operators and desist from the harassment.

The Director of Kikis Court Resort, Patrick Ahumah questioned the modalities used in arriving at what a particular hospitality entity pays for a permit, adding that there have been discrepancies in the charges.

“How can you charge a hotel of twenty rooms about GH¢3,000 and that of fewer rooms about GH¢5,000? EPA is counting the tables and chairs in the conference hall, and EPA is counting the tables and chairs in the restaurant, possibly you will give a bill.

"We don't put up a conference hall, pay property rate to the State, and then now you will have to pay tax or whatever fee on the table to the State. These are busy questions to ask”, he stressed.

The Volta Regional Acting Director of the EPA, Hope Smith Lomotey denied the allegation of intimidation and harassment by his staff, adding that all fees charged are mandated by the law.

“We are not doing anything outside the law. We are mandated by the law, Act 10 80-2022, to charge those fees and ensure they are paid. We issue receipts to all monies received”, he explained in a telephone conversation.