The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), appears to be playing games with the businesses of entrepreneurs and shutting them down in the most inhumane manner
Officials of the authority yesterday stormed some restaurants in Accra with camera wielding media, filming businesses claiming they had refused to pay tourism levy.
One such restaurant (name withheld) was located at North Dzorwulu in Accra.
The officials, who gave their names as Roberta and Michael, claimed the company owed GH¢1, 000.
They were issued a cheque bearing the said amount, but they refused to collect it and insisted on cash, and ended up shutting down the restaurant, ignoring all pleas. This was done in the presence of patrons of the restaurant.
It turned out that the entity, did not owe the authority GHC1, 000, but rather GHc870, when an officer, went to the offices of the Ghana Tourism Authority to make payment, and met one Mr Boakye.
The company, it has since emerged long before yesterday’s shut down, had sought to register with the authority and be paying the levy, but was given the excuse that it had ceased registration exercise because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was, therefore a surprise to the owners of the restaurant that the only reason officials of the authourity, had stormed the facility was not to collect the levy, but to shut them down amid huge media presence and a policemen. They had come in two heavily-loaded buses.
The owners were equally surprised that officials from the authority, rejected the cheque they were issued.
It was also unclear to them, why the authority would be demanding GH¢1, 000, instead of GHc870.
To the owners, it shows that the authority did not do due diligence on the restaurant before storming there in an embarrassing manner.
They pasted a notice that read;
Notice Of Closure
The public is hereby informed that this facility has been closed down for failing to meet the minimum requirements provided under, Legislative Instrument 2238.
Food, Beverage, and Entertainment Enterprises (Registration and Licencing)
Regulations, 2016.
