GTA closes down unlicensed tourist facilities in Kumasi

The Ghana Tourist Authority (GTA) on Tuesday closed down 10 businesses comprising hotels, restaurants and drinking spots in Kumasi that have been operating without licenses.

They include the Diamond Hotel, Green House Guest House, Grandees Pub and Restaurant, +2 Pub and Kitchen, White Collar Datcha, Sister Eno Drinking Spot and Morbifinal Drinking Spot.

The others were Galaxy Travel Consult, Pub African Origin and Green Valley Chinese Travel and Tours.

Mr. Mathew Osei Prempeh, Ashanti Regional Quality Assurance Manager of the GTA, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that this was part of the measures at bringing sanity to the tourism industry.

He expressed concern about the rate at which unlicensed tourist facilities were springing up in the region and said this posed serious danger to the public as their safety could not be guaranteed.

Mr. Osei Prempeh reminded operators in the hospitality industry to accept to work within the law in order to help maintain standards.

Mr. Charles Buabeng, the Regional Chief Marketing Manager of the GTA, advised the industry players to patronize workshops run by the GTA, to enable them to adopt best practices.