That National Hospitality Association of Ghana (NHAG) says their members are continuously being overlooked by government despite a series of promises to aid the industry to recover from the effects of the coronavirus.

According to the Association, the neglect of the sector has resulted in the shutting down of business and increasing rate of job losses.

This was contained in a statement signed by Theodore Dzeble, the Executive Secreatry of NHAG.

NHAG said it is yet to receive any form of of "meaningful alleviation" to help its members bounce back from their loss.

“Several months after government announced a ¢600 million Coronavirus Alleviation Program Business Support Scheme (CAPBuSS) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises affected by the coronavirus, and an additional $9 million grant facility supposedly dedicated to reviving the Tourism and Hospitality sector, not even a single restaurant, eatery or hotel, has received support from the government initiative,” the statement said.

Their lamentations come after the Tourism Minister announced a raft of measures to support the hospitality industry.

She revealed that the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) will from May begin the disbursement of some ¢600 million to micro, small and medium enterprises in the industry.

However, they claimed the NBSSI is overwhelmed with applications, logistical challenges and other factors that make it difficult for them to access their bit of the loan facility.

They are, therefore, calling on government to choose an alternative mode of support over the plan to give them stimulus packages which they describe as ‘quite discriminatory’.

"National Hospitality Association of Ghana is therefore calling on government to create a more conducive business environment for the stability and growth of the sector by; reducing water and utility tariffs by 65%, providing moratorium on loans for at least six months, negotiating with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to supplement the salary of employees by 50% for a 6 month period, reducing property rates and cutting down on import levy on food and drinks," NHAG appealed.

The National Hospitality Association of Ghana (NHAG) is a union of over 60 mainline restaurants and eateries in the Accra, Tema and Koforidua metropolis.

The group is dedicated to promoting innovation, business growth and
development in the hospitality sector.