The Ghana Bar Operators Association (GHABOA), has called for the creation of one “stop shop” procedure in the granting of licenses for their operations.

This would prevent the current situation of members moving from one institution to the other to obtain various permits for their operations.

The association said the development did not motivate drinking bar operators to obtain the various permits as required of them, and to pay levies and taxes to Government.

This was contained in a statement signed by the national secretary of the Association, Mr Stephen K. Mensah, copied to GNA.

It explained that, currently, a potential drinking bar operator in the country needed a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ghana Fire Service, the Ghana Tourists Authority, the Environmental Health Department and the District Assembly.

The statement said due to the complicated nature of obtaining the permits, some drinking bar operators either obtained part of the permits or did not obtain any at all.

It said a research commissioned by the association as part of an advocacy project for the enforcement of bye-laws and regulations towards the elimination of illegal bar operations in the country indicated that, about 73 per cent of bar operators had not got all the permits required for them to operate their facilities.

Twenty per cent of the 949 respondents in the survey, which was carried out in parts of Greater Accra, Eastern, and the Central Regions had no permits at all to operate due to ignorance.

The statement said the GHABOA, informed drinking bar operators that the Government was working on a draft policy on the operation of drinking bars in the country.

It said plans were also far advanced for the establishment of a task force to be made up of stakeholders in the administration of policies and laws on the operations of drinking bars and members of GHABOA, to inspect drinking bar facilities.

The statement called on drinking bar operators in the country to take advantage of opportunities being provided to regularize their operations.**