Sunyani, June 23, GNA - Four hotels, 15 hostels and five drinking ba rs and restaurants in the Sunyani Municipality, were closed down in a specia l exercise by the Brong Ahafo Regional office of the Ghana Tourist Board. They included Tony's Lodge, Geo Kwart Hotel, Fiapre Hotel, Forest Ga te Guest House, Sweet Touch Bar and Restaurant, Royals Restaurant, Sanbra Sp ot, 711 Bar and Restaurant, Life and Living Guest House.

Mr. Francis Tapena, Regional Manager of the Board, who led the exercise, told journalists that some of the affected units were shut down for operating without licence.

Others failed to pay the 70 percent registration fee surcharged on expansion work on annexes of existing hotels, lodges and guest houses, he said. The Regional Manager added that, some of the guest houses had been given notices long ago to stop operating and renovate because of their ba d state, but the owners ignored and were operating undercover. The hotel owners were also called on phone and written to, to regist er with the Board, but they failed to do so and were operating without licen ce, Mr. Tapena added.

He said the affected units would have to pay penalties ranging from two to five hundred Ghana Cedis and if they failed to do so they would face prosecution in court. The Regional Manager warned that the affected units that "do not rep ort at the office for their keys and comply with the Board's mandatory requirements, but will continue to operate secretly, will be severely dea lt with when found".