The Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) in collaboration with the Ashanti Regional Police Command on Wednesday, embarked on an exercise to clamp down on tourist facilities and food joints operating in the Kumasi Metropolis without licences. The six-hour exercise saw a total of nine tourist facilities being closed down. The affected facilities include Social Hotel, Hillbon International, King's Towers Hotel, Alexmax Travels and Global Consultancy Limited, Vibration Spot and Restaurant, Joy Fast Food, Time Out Restaurant, Spice Bar and Restaurant and the Dish Spot and Restaurant. The premises of these facilities were sealed-off when the operators failed to provide the requisite operational license demanded. Briefing newsmen after the exercise, Mr. Ekwow Sampson, Regional Chief Architect and Acting Regional Manager of the GTB said the exercise was aimed at injecting sanity into the operations of these facilities. "We are becoming worried at the spate at which sub-standard facilities were springing up in the Metropolis," he remarked. He said the GTB had stepped up efforts to arrest and prosecute those who operated without license or permit. The exercise was also aimed at ensuring that all food joints and tourist facilities operated up to acceptable standards ahead of the African Cup of Nations Tournament, which would be hosted by Ghana next year. Mr. Sampson advised owners of such facilities to comply with GTB's regulations in their operations for the safety of the public and also help retain the good image of the country. Source: GNA