GTA Shuts Down Elmina Beach Resort, Three Other Hospitality Facilities Over Regulatory Breaches

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in the Central Region has closed down four hospitality establishments for failing to comply with various tourism regulations.

The affected facilities are Elmina Beach Resort in Elmina, as well as Savoy Hotel, Veke Executive Lodge and Wiz Homes, an Airbnb facility, all located in Cape Coast.

The establishments were found to have committed a range of regulatory breaches, including operating without valid licences, failing to pay the tourism levy, providing substandard facilities and delivering poor-quality services.

The GTA also issued caution notices to some unlicensed facilities that were not yet operational but were reportedly preparing to accommodate visitors during the upcoming Oguaa Fetu Afahye celebrations in September.

The closures form part of an ongoing enforcement exercise by the Authority to ensure compliance within the hospitality industry ahead of the festival.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Central Regional Director of Tourism, Charles Buabin, said the affected establishments had been shut down after failing to act on several warnings issued by the Authority.

He stressed that all accommodation businesses, including properties operating through Airbnb, are required to register with the GTA and obtain the appropriate licence before commencing operations.

“In the laws of Ghana, Airbnb is not stated as a facility. All accommodation enterprises are supposed to be registered and licensed before they can operate,” he said.

Mr Buabin explained that the affected establishments would only be allowed to resume operations after correcting the identified deficiencies and settling the applicable regulatory fines.

He also urged members of the public and patrons of hospitality facilities to verify the licensing status of establishments before using their services.

According to him, customers should ensure that the facilities they patronise have valid GTA licences as part of efforts to promote safety and quality standards within the tourism sector.

Mr Buabin further warned that the enforcement exercise would continue across the Central Region, particularly during the festive period.

He said the initiative was intended to sanitise the hospitality industry, improve compliance with tourism regulations and ensure that visitors and residents receive services that meet the required standards.