Hotelier Commends GJA Award Winners, Calls for Single-Window Tax System for Hotels

By – Prosper Adaakai

The Chairman of the Ghana Hotelier Association in the Upper East Region, Simon Aluze-Ele, has commended journalists Prosper Adankai and Gladys Apuweni for their recognition at the 5th Upper East Regional Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards

Mr Aluze-Ele, who is also the Managing Director of Tap Hotel in Bolgatanga, made the commendation when the two award-winning journalists visited his office to express appreciation to the Association for sponsoring the Tourism, Arts and Culture category at the awards

Prosper Adankai of GBC URA Radio was adjudged Best Reporter – Tourism, Arts and Culture, while Gladys Apuweni was recognised as Best Female Journalist at the ceremony

The courtesy visit provided an opportunity for the award winners to formally thank the Ghana Hotelier Association for its support towards the awards and for recognising the importance of journalism in promoting tourism, hospitality and the cultural heritage of the Upper East Region

Mr Aluze-Ele described the recognition of journalists in specialised reporting categories as important to the development of the region, stressing that tourism and hospitality required sustained media attention to thrive

He said journalists play a critical role in telling the stories of destinations, cultural assets, hospitality establishments and businesses that contribute to the local economy

Beyond the congratulatory message, however, Mr Aluze-Ele used the occasion to draw attention to challenges confronting hotels and hospitality businesses in the region, particularly what he described as the multiplicity of taxes, fees and regulatory charges imposed on hotel operators

According to him, hotels are required to deal with several institutions, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana National Fire Service and Regional and Municipal Assemblies, among others, with each institution imposing various fees or charges

He said the situation was becoming increasingly difficult for businesses at a time when many hotels were already experiencing declining patronage and revenues

«“Hotels in the region are struggling a little with the multiplicity of taxes going on,” he said, citing charges from institutions including the EPA, Fire Service and Regional and Municipal Assemblies.»

Mr Aluze-Ele said the situation had become more concerning because of the broader economic and business environment, which, he noted, had affected the flow of business to hotels in the region

He mentioned the impact of the Boko situation and changes associated with the withdrawal or reduction of USAID-supported activities as factors contributing to reduced business for hotels

“When you look at your balance sheet, you see that you’re not doing so well,” he said, underscoring the financial pressure confronting operators

The hotelier expressed concern that some institutions sometimes approach businesses with demands for payment and threats of closure, without adequately considering the investments made by hotel owners or the financial difficulties confronting the sector

He appealed to the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), as the industry’s principal regulator, as well as other relevant stakeholders, to engage hotel operators and develop a more coordinated system for taxation and regulatory payments

Mr Aluze-Ele proposed the establishment of a single-window payment framework through which hotels could meet their statutory obligations in a coordinated and predictable manner

He argued that such a system would reduce the burden on businesses and make it easier for hotel operators to plan their finances

“We want to impress on our partners and our regulators to take it seriously and help us to build a single framework where we have a single window of payment,” he said

According to him, predictability was crucial for businesses, particularly at a time when hotels were struggling to maintain operations, pay workers and sustain investments

He therefore called for stronger collaboration between the Ghana Tourism Authority, local assemblies, environmental and fire safety regulators and the hotel industry to review the existing payment arrangements

The proposal, he explained, was not necessarily about eliminating statutory obligations but about streamlining them so that businesses could understand what they were required to pay, when they were required to pay it and to which institution

The concerns come at a time when the hospitality sector remains an important component of Ghana’s tourism ecosystem and a significant contributor to local economic activity through employment, accommodation, food services and support for tourism-related businesses

For the Upper East Region, hotels also provide accommodation and conference facilities for visitors, government officials, development partners, tourists, journalists, businesses and organisations operating across the region

Mr Aluze-Ele’s call therefore places renewed emphasis on the need for a regulatory environment that protects public interests while also enabling hospitality businesses to remain viable

The courtesy visit by the two journalists consequently became more than a celebration of journalistic achievement. It offered an opportunity for the media and hospitality sectors to strengthen their partnership while drawing attention to challenges that could affect the sustainability of tourism-related businesses in the region

As Prosper Adankai and Gladys Apuweni expressed gratitude to the Ghana Hotelier Association for supporting the GJA awards, the Association, in turn, used the engagement to reaffirm the importance of responsible journalism in promoting the tourism, arts, culture and hospitality sectors

The recognition of specialised journalism, Mr Aluze-Ele suggested, should therefore continue to serve as a bridge between the media and industries whose stories are essential to the development narrative of the Upper East Region

For hotel operators, however, the immediate call is for regulators and policymakers to listen to their concerns and work towards a more coordinated payment regime—one that allows businesses to meet their obligations without being overwhelmed by multiple and sometimes unpredictable demands

Source – gbcuraonline.com