By Nana Yaw, a hotelier in the Greater Accra Region, has shed light on the challenges facing hoteliers in managing their establishments, particularly the burden of multiple taxes.
During an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Nana Yaw emphasized that hotel managers are grappling with numerous taxes and fees, which are gradually stifling their businesses.
“We are in a situation where as hotels we have always talked about some of these bodies consolidating some of the bills they bring to us. For instance, the assembly is taking business operating permits, signboard fees, property rates, and renewal of certificates.
“That is not all, then you have people from the Environmental Health, Food and Drugs Authority, and Fire Service, others coming for their fees as well, before, you attend to Ghana Tourism Levy and TV licence,” he listed.
Nana Yaw also discussed the adverse effects of the struggling economy on his business. According to him, the depreciation of the cedi and the high inflation rate have made operating his hotel nearly untenable.
“Electricity bills are so huge. Over the last year or two electricity bill has doubled. I was paying GH₵1,000 for water about two years ago, now I pay GH₵8,000. The price of the chlorine tablets that I use for treating my pool has doubled.
“The bedsheets, towels and curtains are all imported and because of the situation with the currency, the prices have all doubled,” he told Kojo Yankson on the programme.
In light of this, Nana Yaw pointed out that hoteliers have been compelled to raise their prices to remain operational.
