GTA shuts down unlicensed Airbnb facilities in Kasoa

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has shut down several unregistered accommodation facilities in Kasoa and surrounding areas for operating without the required licences.

The enforcement exercise follows repeated notices issued to the operators, asking them to register their facilities in line with the Registration and Licensing of Food, Beverage and Entertainment Enterprises, 2016 (L.I. 2238).

However, the operators reportedly failed to comply, prompting the Authority to take action against the facilities.

Speaking to Citi News during the exercise, the Accra West Regional Director of the GTA, Richard Agyenim Boateng, said operating accommodation facilities without registration and the necessary licence was against the law.

He warned that operators who reopened their facilities without meeting the legal requirements could face prosecution.

Boateng explained that the exercise was aimed at enforcing tourism regulations while ensuring the safety and satisfaction of guests who use the facilities.

“We are mandated to close down all facilities that are not registered. These facilities have failed to register with us and have ignored our notices. That is why we are here to ensure they do the right thing. They operate Airbnb facilities, and we want them to come to our office to go through the registration process and obtain licences,” he said.

The GTA is urging operators of short-term rental facilities, including Airbnb properties, to visit its offices and complete the necessary registration and licensing processes.

The latest action forms part of efforts to ensure that accommodation providers operate within the country's tourism regulatory framework.

The Authority's enforcement measures also seek to encourage compliance among operators and promote standards that protect visitors using accommodation facilities across the country.

NA/AM