Hotel Obama opens in Accra

, with a room called “White House”

There is no stopping the growth of Ghana’s hospitality industry, as daily additions in the different sectors of the industry continue. There are increasing efforts to boost the tourism sector.

A recent addition has been made. A new hotel, Hotel Obama, named after the first African-American President of the United States, Barack Obama opened in one of the capital’s choice residential areas, East Legon, Saturday July 4, 2009 – which is America’s Independence Day. Incidentally, President Obama is due to arrive in Ghana July 10, 2009, on his first African visit since becoming president.

The 18-room hotel is one of the handiworks of accountant turned entrepreneur and CEO of Town and Country Plaza, Mr. Kwame Owusu. Hotel Obama, he says is an “upscale of Town and Country Plaza’s chain of hospitality businesses.” “I call it Hotel Obama, because, President Obama represents all that is possible in bridging all there is in ethnic and racial barriers, and a good example of all that is possible,” he told ghanabusinessnews.com.

Mr. Owusu told ghanabusinessnews.com that after living in the US for almost 25 years, he understands what it means to be a minority in a society like the US. He therefore, finds it fitting to honour the US President as a living legend.

The room called "White House" The hotel has rooms named the ‘Obama Suite”, “Michelle Obama”, “Martin Luther King”, “Joe Biden”, “White House”, a room called “1865” and so on.

Fitted with air-conditioning, wireless Internet connection, and cable TV, the Hotel Obama sounds like the place to be.