ACCRA, Ghana – The National President of the Ghana Hoteliers Association (GHA), Herbert Acquaye, has said that his outfit will continue to work to ensure that the 1 per cent tourism levy is well-managed to yield dividends for the proposed objectives.
He explained that the Hoteliers Association had embarked on a new transparency initiative using a software capable of monitoring all the payments that go into the fund. The system will also allow hotels to use their own passwords to make direct inputs into the fund.
“As collaborators who are doing the collection and as a civil society organisation, we must ensure that there is a clear sense of governance in how this fund is managed,” he said.
On hoteliers’ role with respect to foreign exchange, Acquaye assured the nation that members of the GHA were not only charging tariffs in cedis but were also ensuring that others complied.
The national president was speaking in Accra at the induction ceremony of newly- elected executives of the Greater Accra Regional Branch of the Ghana Hoteliers Association.
The newly- elected chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Branch, Dr Ackah-Nyamike Jnr, outlined a one-year programme, which focuses on social and business networking investments, as well as improved hospitality standards. He proposed a membership drive to strengthen the base of the association.
‘’We must work to harness all resources of the association to undertake well thought-out activities to achieve the industry’s objectives.’’
Dr Ackah-Nyamike Jnr called for effective partnership with statutory stakeholders such as the Ghana Tourists Association, Police, Ghana Revenue Authority, National Fire Service, Environmental Protection Agency and District Assemblies.
The new chairman is a former lecturer at the University of Ghana and Director of Venaco Hotel in Accra. He took over from Mr Kwame Appiah Danquah of KAD Hotel.
In his handing over speech, Danquah said though they enjoyed good relations with Districts Assemblies, hotel standards and services across the regions were low.
He said the GHA was currently running a pilot project in hotels in four districts. This initiative will address the issue of making hotel business outside the cities more comfortable and viable.
Other members of the Accra branch of the Hoteliers Association who were sworn in are: Peter Wireko (Korkdam Hotel), Vice Chairman; Mrs Paulina Opoku Acheampong, (Gye Nyame Hotel) Secretary; Joseph Odame Danquah (Standard Hotel) Treasurer and Jonathan Anyetei, (Grace Jones Hotel) Assistant Treasurer. The new executives will be in office for a two-year tenure.
