In his 10th address to the nation on the measures taken against the spread of Coronavirus, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced that restaurants providing seated services can operate under appropriate social distancing arrangements and hygiene protocols. He also noted that conferences, among other events, can now take place with limited numbers not exceeding one hundred (100) persons present.
The Ghana National Hotels Association has welcomed the directives set out by the president in their operations.
President of the Ghana National Hotels Association, Dr. Edward Nyameke, in an interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, explained that hotels in Ghana were already observing health protocols during the first break of the pandemic in Ghana.
He, thus, noted that the additional measures prescribed by the president will not be difficult to adhere to.
“Since the pandemic began in Ghana, the hotels have been working except that there were some restrictions on conferences, restaurants and entertainment. Over the period, a lot of hotels put measures that make sure that the hotels are not venues for the spread of the virus. Some hotels have the thermometer gun, Veronica buckets, sanitizers and the rooms are cleaned to the extent that the virus does not have its way. They have been working under such protocols.
Now that the president has reduced restrictions on events and conferences, the same protocols will apply; the social distancing, maximum 100 people, use of sanitizers and others will be observed”, he said.
He was of the view that even though hotels and restaurants will maintain a strict standard of operation amid the Coronavirus pandemic, the clients also have the responsibility to ensure their safety.
He, however, pointed out that the fact that the president had eased the restrictions for the hospitality industry did not mean all hotels and restaurants will quickly bounce back into operation.
He explained that some of these hotels and restaurants needed a financial injection in order to operate.
“A lot of hotels are financially stressed. A lot of them are still shut down. The ease of restrictions does not mean the hotels are just going to bounce back. They definitely need some injection of money into the industry. It will take some time for some hotels to start operating”, he added.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah
