The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has closed down some facilities that have failed to register with the authority.
Among some of the facilities shut down are; Bronis’ Pizza Inn, Baffour Apartment, KBR restaurant, Grace Court and Gyamfuaa court.
As part of the exercise, the authority pasted a notice which is backed by Act 817, warning operators of defaulted facilities to do the needful before they can operate the facilities again.
Speaking to the media during the first day of the enforcement exercise in Kumasi, Madam Mavis Gyasi Afriyie, the Ashanti Regional GTA director, told the media that twenty-six days have been earmarked for the exercise.
On the scope of the exercise, Madam Gyasi Afriyie disclosed that 127 units, excluding hostels, have been targeted by her outfit.
She noted that their work seeks to address three challenges, namely Operators without license, uncollected license and uncompleted license documentation.
Madam Gyasi Afriyie also noted that the exercise aims at regularising these establishments as enshrined in the Tourism Act.
On his part, Nana Mathew Prempeh, Ashanti Regional Quality Assurance Officer of the GTA explained that GTA is mandated to regularise all the tourism establishments such as apartments, hotels, car rentals, restaurants and travel and tours.
According to him, many are those whose licences are ready but they have not come for them, adding that there are others who are also operating without even bothering to register with the Authority, whilst others have started the process but they have relaxed.
GTA is, therefore, going round trying to make sure that their clients do the right thing, stressing that they are not sabotaging any business.
“Those who fall below, we try to encourage them to adhere to the Act 817, by putting them on re-inspection and those who do not meet the time frame that we have given them are closed down.” Nana Prempeh said.
“My advice to those who are operating in the informal sector-Chop Bars and drinking bars all fall under the law, so we are urging them to do the needful,” he added.
Nana Prempeh disclosed that before a facility is licensed, they undergo a number of checks, including criminal vetting of the owner, fire certificate among others, in an attempt to make sure that the facility renders quality service to the public.
He, therefore, implored the public to ask for licenses of such establishments before they patronise them, saying “We make sure they give out their best to the customers.”
