Coronavirus: Ghana Tourism Authority issues directives for partial lockdown

The Ghana Tourism Authority has issued guidelines for hotels, restaurant and night clubs amid the partial lockdown which will take effect at 1am on Monday 30th March 2020.

The GTA said this at a press briefing organised by the ministry of information, to clarify issues concerning the partial lockdown announced by the president.

The president on Friday 27th March in his address to the nation, imposed restrictions on movements at certain parts of the country identified as hotspot to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The places where the restrictions were imposed includes Accra, Tema, and Kumasi.

However some essential services including members of the security agencies assigned lawful duties; staff of electricity, water, telecommunications, e-commerce and digital service providers; members of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary; production, distribution and marketing of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages; staff of VALCO were however exempted from the restrictions.

Read the full brief below:

Following the directives by the President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on the imposition of restrictions on movement of persons in specific areas, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and in conjunction with the National Security Task Force on COVID-19, issues the following directives for the Hospitality Industry.

1) All Hotels can operate as normal and host their guests. Their Restaurants, gyms and other facilities will service only the resident guests, subject to the specified enhanced hygiene protocols and social distancing. Their staff will be provided special passes by National Security, which must be worn in addition to their normal IDs.

3) Food Chains and Restaurants must operate only pick-up and delivery services. Their staff will be provided special passes, which must be worn in addition to their normal IDs.

4) All drinking bars, night clubs, pubs etc within the specified areas must remain closed during the period.

In all situations, facilities should observe the protocol and precautionary measures on public gathering as spelt out in the imposition of restriction Act, 2020.