KB Asante: Voice From Afar column

This used to be the notice at the entrance of KIT KAT, the popular dance hall at Adabraka in Accra when British ballroom dancing was in vogue.

Women in native attire (what we now call national dress) were banned from the dance halls to maintain what was regarded as dignity and decorum.

Gentlemen were marked then by their smart palm-beach suits. Ties, even on baggy trousers, distinguished those who aspired to respectable status.

The desire to keep “standards” at public places of entertainment and hotels was strong. The ladies of night comfort then plied their trade mainly along Barnes Road, especially at the junction where the TUC Hall now stands.

They moved to the precincts of the hotels which sprung up, especially the seedy ones. They were, however, not welcome and indeed generally turned away from the respectable hotels.

These hotels instituted measures to keep away undesirable clients. The measures were carefully thought out and were implemented under the direction of well-informed, discerning officials who did not embarrass clients.

The practice still continues and I was surprised to learn that our leading hotel Movenpïck was trying to keep the establishment “respectable” by crude, unthoughtful procedures.

The Daily Graphic carried a report last Monday that on Valentine’s Day groups of women were turned away at the hotel’s entrance which was manned by two bouncers.

The writer of the report and her friends were prevented from ushering in their guest of honour. They were told by the bouncers that the new rule by management of the hotel was that no female or groups of females should be allowed in without male escort.

The reason for the rule is clear from the short history related. But I do not expect any competent management to leave such intention to be implemented without thoughtful instructions to the lower ranks who will meet guests. 

I am afraid such lackadaisical attitude by high officials is responsible for many of the unnecessary problems and annoyance which confront the public daily. Statements are not carefully worded and mouths are opened without much thought. You piece all the sayings of high officials and you do not know how long the electricity cuts will last and whether it will get better or worse in the short term. Authority and high officials must wake up. They are paid directly or indirectly by the citizens of the country and they should not add to the distress and annoyance of the public.

I do not expect the management of Movenpïck to turn Ghana into an Arabian oasis where the main role of a woman is to quench the thirst of a man.

If certain characters are to be excluded from the hotel they should be met by trained officials who should ask the suspected entrant how he or she could be helped. I say he or she advisedly because a good hotel and restaurant could do without some types of men. 

All the talk about improving tourism would come to nought if a respectable female doctor cannot entertain an European or American female doctor in a leading hotel. We should not expect progress in the tourism industry with lousy management.

One of my regrets in life was not studying law and taking up matters of constitutional or public interest in my old age to advance real freedom. Even with my ignorance of the law I can see some merit in taking the management of Movenpïck to court for causing inconvenience and distress to a guest.

I believe a hotel or restaurant automatically issues an invitation to all to enter. I remember an article in the London Times years ago about damages to a woman who fell when she was trying to enter a shop. Snow had not been cleared from the entrance of the shop and the court held that the shop should make its entrance safe for all its guests. 

Of course certain rules should apply, such as entry procedures, to ensure ability to pay for services to be rendered and so on. If certain categories of persons are to be excluded this should be advertised at or near the entrance. For example, dogs and cats may be refused entry and clients should, therefore, not enter with such pets.

Even some attire could be frowned upon. I am not amused when I see women dressed in bikinis, which expose so much, in public places. Normal men take delight in such exposure but at the proper place!

I was not amused when I was denied entry into the Community Centre in Accra because I was not in Dinner Jacket. This was in 1954 when after entertaining some friends at Achimota some of us thought the night was still young and we could continue with a Charity Ball at the centre.

I was in suit but not a dinner jacket and was ready to pay my one pound, which was a lot of money then. The man at the gate refused me entry and I demanded to see one of the organisers. A distinguished woman I knew well came. I said I was sorry to be improperly dressed but it was a last-minute decision to attend the ball and aid charity. She firmly refused me entry and I had to go back to Achimota.

Perhaps I should take advantage of this opportunity to enlighten the youth about a famous land-mark in Accra, which is now in a sorry state of disrepair. The Accra Community Centre was a most useful meeting point in Accra. It was built by the United Africa Company (UAC) for the people of Accra to mark Ghana’s independence.

It served a most useful purpose as the only public meeting place was King George V Memorial Hall which became Parliament House and now houses CHRAJ. The Community Centre is near the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and is now swamped by a huge car park. I believe a minister once claimed it was government property. It was an example of ignorance in high places. The Community Centre belongs to the people of Accra and the AMA should improve it and make it a centre of recreation and fellowship for the youth.

P.S. My attention has been drawn to an error in my last article. Dr Danquah’s mother-in-law who met President Nkrumah to plead for the release of the doyen of Gold Coast politics was Mrs Vardon and not Mrs Ayensu. The former Hilda Vardon who became Mrs Ayensu was Dr Danquah’s sister-in-law. The error is regretted.