My Ministry is determined to improve tourism- Obetsebi-Lamptey

Sunyani, March 1, GNA - The Ministry of Tourism and the Modernization of the Capital City is determined to help improve facilities in the hospitality industry and provide opportunities for training of staff of hotels, restaurants and motels.

Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, sector Minister said this in an address read on his behalf by his deputy, Mr. Boniface Saddique at a one-day workshop on ECOWAS standards in Sunyani for hoteliers in the region. He noted that standards in especially the hotel industry in the country had fallen over the years, as evident from reports, criticisms and complaints received from some tourists who visited the country. Some of the complaints were about some hotels that did not change bed sheets, towels usually small, which are hardly changed and provide used soap by other clients.

The Minister added that the tourists complained of slow services at restaurants and the deplorable attitude of some waiters and waitresses, as well as absence of cleanliness of surroundings. Mr. Obetsebi- Lamptey emphasized that such observations about Ghana could "kill our industry and push some of you out of business" if nothing was done about them.

"The Ministry is therefore pursuing a policy that will enhance and improve upon Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) inspection of facilities to ensure that standards are high all the time.

"The first step we have taken is to have this workshop to acquaint you with standards and give you time to improve your facilities and services", he said.

The Minister stressed that ECOWAS had developed uniform standards for accommodation establishments including hotels, motels and guest inns, as a means of encouraging and facilitating the joint promotion of tourism products in the sub-region.

He said the intense competition in the industry had compelled the Ministry to take a second look at existing standards in the country and the ECOWAS standards had given the country the opportunity "to re-assess our standards and to eliminate any disparities in the region". Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey said consequently, the annual inspection of facilities by GTB inspectors was going to change as the Board was setting up new mechanisms including negotiating with Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) for the training of interested teachers to undertake inspection during holidays.

Mr. Francis Tapena, acting Regional Manager of GTB said it was the aim of the Board to project available facilities to boost tourism in the region.