The Ghana Hotels Association is calling on the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture to prioritize collaboration with the private sector by convening the Public Private Partnership Forum as mandated under Section 42 of the Tourism Act 817.
According to the Association, the consistent neglect of such statutory platforms by successive governments has contributed to the continued existence of many unresolved challenges in the hospitality industry.
Speaking at a press briefing of the Ghana Hotels Association’ 50th Anniversary, the Association’s President, Dr. Edward Ackah Nyameke, also pressed for transparency in the management of the Tourism Development Fund.
The Forum shall meet at least once each quarter,” Dr. Nyameke quoted directly from the law, stressing that the Minister is expected to organize the meeting “in collaboration with the Authority and the Private Sector.”
The Association also pressed for transparency in the management of the Tourism Development Fund, urging the Ministry to spell out disbursement plans that include key private sector stakeholders.
We expect to hear about the status of the Fund and plans for disbursement that take the private sector into consideration,” he emphasized.
Further, the Association raised concerns over what it described as “harsh enforcement” and inconsistent licensing procedures from various regulatory bodies overseeing the hospitality sector. These include the FDA, EPA, MMDAs, Fire Service, and more recently, NADMO, whose “discretional interpretation” of rules has reportedly led to operational disruptions for some hotel operators across the country.
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