NEW EXECUTIVE FOR HOTELIERS ASSOCIATION (SHOWBIZ, PAGE 23, OCT 28, 2010)

By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah

MR Herbert Acquaye has been elected as the new National President of the Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) to run the affairs of the association for the next four years. He was sworn in together with a 10-member executive during the association’s third National Executive Council meeting held at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The other executive members are Mr Tom Kuenyefa, National Vice President; Mrs Juliet Taylor, National Secretary; Ms Ellen Gandaa, Assistant National Secretary; Nana Afoani Tenkorang National Treasurer; Mr P.K. Ntiamoah, National Financial Secretary; Mrs Francisca Addison, Mr Abraham Ahinful, Mr G.W. Otoo and Mrs Wilhelmina Aklaku, as National Trustees.
Nana Adjei Twene, the immediate past President of the association, who administered the oath of office, was confident the new executive would deal effectively with matters affecting the association. He added that the GHA was not a political entity but a professional body that was expected to contribute its quota to the development of the economy.
Nana Twene, who is the current President of the Ghana Tourists Federation (GHATOF), expressed the hope that the new executive members would work hand-in-hand with the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) to “champion a common course’’.
Mr Acquaye, in his address noted that, a few years ago only a handful of GHA members had insurance cover for their premises but was delighted the situation had changed at present, with most members acquiring insurance policies from a reputable insurance company.
According to GHA president, credit schemes had been arranged with some local manufacturers and importers to enable members to acquire such logistics as good quality electrical appliances, beddings and consumables required for their smooth operations.
The President noted that rising cost of hotel facilities, high energy and maintenance bills were some of the major challenges confronting operations in the industry and seriously affecting their profitability. ‘‘Our turnover seems to be on the decline as we rely on very few business visitors; the leisure traveller does not seem to fall within our market segment.’’
Mr Acquaye pointed out that proprietors and managers of hotels needed a better understanding of the industry through regular interaction, training and capacity building in order to meet contemporary challenges of the industry.
He also suggested the institution of an annual hotel awards ceremony in order to help create competition and raise standards, stating it was a perfect way to bring members together to select and reward peers who had excelled in various activities.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the association, Mr Philip Ntiamoah, in his welcoming address, observed that some hotels were yet to receive payment for credit facilities granted to governmental and other agencies but were still expected pay the Value Added Tax (VAT).
He also noted with concern the increasing number of hotels which had not registered with the association and were still operating without the required licenses, rendered poor services to customers and subsequently evaded taxes.