Upper East Hotels Association Calls for Single Tax Payment Framework to Ease Pressure on Businesses.

By – Gladys Apuweni

The Chairman of the Upper East Regional Hotels Association and Managing Director of TAP Hotel, Simon Aluzeele, has called for the establishment of a unified framework to streamline the payment of taxes and regulatory fees imposed on hotels across the country

According to him, hotels in the Upper East Region are facing significant financial pressure due to the multiplicity of taxes and levies imposed by various regulatory institutions, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana National Fire Service and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs)

Speaking on the sidelines of upper East Regional GJA awards night, Mr. Aluzeele said the situation had become increasingly difficult for hotels, particularly at a time when businesses were experiencing a decline in patronage

He noted that the region’s hospitality industry had been affected by developments such as the ongoing challenges in Bawku and the withdrawal of USAID related activities, which had contributed to a reduction in business and hotel occupancy

Mr. Aluzeele appealed to the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), which he described as a key regulator and partner of the industry, as well as other relevant institutions, to take the concerns of hoteliers seriously and work towards a more coordinated system of taxation and regulatory payments

He proposed the introduction of a single window payment system through which hotels could conveniently make all required statutory payments, rather than dealing separately with multiple institutions. He said such a system would make it easier for businesses to plan their finances and avoid unexpected demands

Mr. Aluzeele further expressed concern about instances where some officials allegedly threaten to shut down hotels over unpaid fees without considering the huge investments made by business owners

He stressed that a more collaborative approach between regulators and hotel operators is necessary to protect businesses, sustain jobs and strengthen the hospitality sector in the Upper East Region

He therefore urged the GTA and other stakeholders to engage the hotel industry and develop a practical framework that would reduce the burden of multiple payments while ensuring that government institutions continue to receive the revenues due them

Source – gbcuraonline.com