The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has engaged restaurant, fast-food, and food joint operators at a high-level stakeholder meeting aimed at addressing operational and regulatory challenges within the hospitality industry.
The engagement, held at the Accra City Hotel, is part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration with key industry players to promote growth, competitiveness, and sustainability in Ghana’s tourism and hospitality sector.
Key among the issues discussed was the growing public concern over the imposition of mandatory service charges on customers’ bills.
The practice, which has become increasingly common, was identified as having the potential to undermine consumer confidence and damage the image of the hospitality industry.
The meeting also served as a platform for open dialogue, experience-sharing, and the development of practical recommendations to guide industry best practices in line with international standards and consumer protection principles.
Management of the Ghana Tourism Authority and industry operators deliberated on measures to ensure fairness, transparency, and improved service delivery across the sector.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations and Services at the GTA, Ekow Sampson, expressed concern about the rising cost of services charged by some food vendors and restaurant operators.
According to him, aside from approved levies, the Authority has observed that some operators have imposed additional charges ranging from 10 to 20 percent on customers’ bills.
Mr. Sampson said the GTA has since engaged with such operators to discourage the introduction of unauthorized charges, stressing that fair pricing remains critical to protecting consumers and sustaining growth in the tourism and hospitality industry.
He noted that quality service delivery, combined with affordable pricing, would encourage patronage and strengthen the sector.
Meanwhile, a restaurant operator, Madam Lilian Agbaga, expressed concern over what she described as overlapping levies paid during the 2025 financial year.
She said the multiple charges have placed significant financial strain on her business and affected its day-to-day operations. She called on the Ghana Tourism Authority to intervene and help reduce the burden of levies imposed on restaurant operators.
Source: myxyzonline.com
