Kumasi, Jan. 12, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor, on Saturday inaugurated the 21.2 Million-Dollar refurbished Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel, formerly Known as the City Hotel, one of the nation's foremost prized assets in the hospitality industry.
He said Ghana Government was determined to buy back some of the state-owned hotels sold out under questionable conditions and sale terms. President Kufuor said government was resolved to "salvage these national monuments, which must not be allowed to decay further and get ruined completely."
He noted that despite the recent additions, the number of hotels, especially those in the star-rated category fell far below the national requirement, given the country's growing investment and business attraction.
President Kufuor said the re-birth of the City Hotel, was so much appreciated and urged hotel operators to work under clean environment and provide quality service.
Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the Finance Minister and Chairman of the Ghana Libyan Arab Holding Company (GLAHCO), said the refurbishment of the hotel was a manifestation of the confidence Ghana's investment partners continued to have in the country's economy, especially in the rapidly improving business environment.
"The progress made towards this objective also fulfils the aspiration of the leaders of the two Sovereign States, Ghana and Libya, towards mutual co-operation."
Mr Baah-Wiredu said the well functioning and internationally star rated hotel would enhance the reputation of Kumasi and contribute significantly to its economy.
He said there were plans to rehabilitate Golden Tulip Accra to bring it to modern standards and said this would start in May, this year and expected to be completed in six months.
Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, asked the workers of the hotel, to ensure that service delivery was up to standard, avoid pilfering and to see them-selves as part of the ownership.
Mr Abdulhamid Karmus, Managing Director of the GLAHCO, said the opening of the hotel was yet another success story of the joint co-operation for economic development between Ghana and Libya. Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, challenged the management of the facility to create the necessary environment and avenues for the promotion of domestic tourism, conference tourism and to help to project the rich Ashanti culture. With the refurbishment of the hotel, Kumasi, which is one of the venues for the 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament is now ready to host match officials, footballers and soccer fans of the 2008 African Cups of Nation to be held in the country this month.
The facility has 160 guest rooms, a restaurant, a lobby bar, swimming pool, health club facilities, conference and meeting rooms with total seating capacity of 500 people. The GLAHCO, an investment company established in the early 1980s by the Government of Ghana and the Government of Libyan, under a bilateral and investment agreement, owns the hotel.
