Officials of GTA closing down one of the illegal facilities
TO SANITISE the tourism sector, 42 illegal tourism facilities are to be shut down by an enforcement team of the Tema Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).
Illegal tourism facilities, particularly hotels, eateries, social centres and guest houses operating without the requisite licenses from the GTA are to be closed down.
Eatery and event facilities in and around Tema will not be spared in the ongoing one-week enforcement exercise to ensure better service and payment of tourism taxes.
The enforcement team made up of staff of the authority and officers from the Tema Regional Police Command hit the ground running to close down illegal facilities in Tema, Ashaiman, Ada East and Ada West, Dodowa, Ningo-Prampram and Kpone-Katamanso Districts, and Kodiebe in the Greater Accra Region.
So far, the authority has been able to close down nine out of the total 42 targeted facilities. Facilities such as CK Lovely guest house (Ashaiman Newtown), Discovery Hotel (Community 22), Mamens Leisure Park (Afienya), among others, were not shut down.
The tourism authority regulates the activities of all accommodation establishments which include hotels, hostels, guest houses and apartments.
Speaking with a section of the media after ‘day one’ operation, Charles Buabin, the acting Tema Regional Manager of the GTA explained that the entities had violated the Tourism Act (Act 817) and its implementation tools including LI 1285 (tourism levy regulation) and LI 1205 (accommodation and catering regulation).
He stated: “We are going to enforce the legislative instruments which are the tourism regulations for the registration and licensing of tourism accommodation enterprises 2016, as well as the tourism regulation LI 2238 which is the registration and licensing of food, entertainment and beverages enterprises”.
Mr. Buabin said some of the operators within the tourism industry fail to stick to operational standards in order to enjoy the benefits of the industry.
The Tema Regional Manager observed the recalcitrant behaviour of some of the operators who have ignored caution from the authority, adding that “the last straw we’ll use is police assistance to enforce the law . . . and if the rules are not applied they will simply do what they want.”
Touching on the registration and licensing of facilities, the acting Regional Manager explained that GTA looks out for fire, business and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) certificates.
Other documents he mentioned include police reports, building permits, and inspection of facility before license is issued.
On review of charges for failure to comply with the law, he added that the authority was currently reviewing the charges involved for enterprises that violate the law.
Currently, GTA is charging GH¢50 for drinking spot and GH¢100 for lodging facilities for renewal of licenses.
However, there is penalty and administrative charges of GH¢300 for restaurants, event grounds and drinking spots and GH¢500 for lodging facilities who have failed to comply with the law.
From Vincent Kubi, Tema