Awuni advises hotel owners

The Eastern Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Angwubutuge Awuni has advised hotel operators to reject clients who refuse security checks at their premises.

According to DCOP Awuni, such measures had become necessary to avert armed robberies and terrorist attacks following the rise in such attacks across the West African sub-region.

He said players in the hospitality industry should be security conscious to help avert nefarious activities of criminals.

“Don’t be afraid of losing the little monies from clients who refuse security screening. They pose a danger to your lifetime investments and you must do all you can to protect your investments from such persons.”

The Eastern Regional Police chief disclosed this while speaking at a meeting with hotel owners and operators in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital over the weekend.

“I sincerely believe that it is better for me to lose the money that I will get from one client than losing the whole hotel because if the person is a terrorist and enters the hotel and decides to take hostages and kill, I will lose a lot of clients and therefore, if anybody refuses security checks, I think it’s best for the hotel owner to allow him go wherever he wants,” he said.

A recent terrorists attack in Ghana’s northern neighbour, Burkina Faso during which about 29 people died has prompted Ghana’s security forces to be on alert.

DCOP Awuni told the hoteliers that what happened in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso could be repeated in Ghana, hence the need to take precaution.

The fear of terrorist attacks has also been heightened with the presence of two ex-detainees from Guantanamo Bay in Ghana.

DCOP Awuni stressed the need for hotel managers to screen employees before hiring them.

“If you are employing, take time and do a little bit of screening on employees so you don’t pay someone to come and create havoc against us.”

The Eastern Police Commander however advised hotel managers to make the Ghana Tourism Act their guide and also adhere to Section 35 of the law, stating emphatically that hoteliers could stay out of trouble if they do so.

The Secretary of the Regional Hoteliers’ Association, Ustaz Yakubu, on behalf of his members, said the recent terrorist attacks in the sub-region have made security a top priority in the region.