COVID-19: Tourism Authority updates guidelines for hospitality sector

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has published guidelines for the hospitality industry on measures taken against the spread of the coronavirus which were first announced by President Akufo-Addo on Sunday, January 31, 2020.

The directives issued by the Corporate Affairs Department of the GTA in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MATOC) reiterates that pubs, beaches, nightclub remain closed.

Guidelines on pubs

Addressing the confusion over what constitutes a pub, the directives state that according to Legislative Instrument 2238, a pub or lounge is a place licensed for the sale and consumption of a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in an enclosed area with air conditioning and a well fitted and furnished setting.

“For ease of reference per our standards captured in Tourism (Registration and Licensing of Food, Beverage and Entertainment Enterprise) Regulations, 2016. Legislative Instrument 2238,  a pub or lounge is a place licensed for the sale and consumption of a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in an enclosed area with air conditioning and a well fitted and furnished setting”,  it explained.

Restaurants

The guidelines also direct all hospitality facilities to strictly observe the underlining COVID-19 protocols and display "No Mask No Entry" signage at their premises.

It also urges restaurants to make efforts to provide takeaway services and avoid seated services.

It further directs that “in case of providing seated services, restaurants should limit the number to 50% of current capacity”, it said.

Enforcement

The GTA also warned that it will soon embark on a mass enforcement exercise of the directives.

“GTA will be embarking on a mass enforcement exercise with the Ghana Police Service. Operators are to note and comply so that they do not fall foul of the law”, the directives said.

Read all the guidelines below;

1. Pubs remain closed. For ease of reference per our standards captured in Tourism (Registration and Licensing of Food, Beverage and Entertainment Enterprise) Regulations, 2016. Legislative Instrument 2238, a pub or lounge is a place licensed for the sale and consumption of a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in an enclosed area with air conditioning and a well fitted and furnished setting.

2. Beaches remain closed

3. Night Clubs remain closed.

4. Cinemas remain closed.

5. Restaurants should as much as possible provide take-away services, and avoid seated services. In case of providing seated services, they should limit the number to 50% of current capacity

6. In all situations, hospitality facilities should observe the underlining Covid-19 protocols as communicated earlier which include:

a. Display of "No Mask No Entry" signage

b. Provision of soap and running water and hand sanitisers with paper towels at public areas.

c. Wearing of mask and protective wear by staff.

d. Regular disinfection of surfaces. Where use of bleach is not suitable, eg. telephone, remote control equipment, door handles buttons in the elevator etc. then alcohol-based sanitisers (70% and above) must be used.

e. Limit the number of guests for dinning to 50% of current capacity of the establishment to ensure adequate spacing for seating to maintain social distances of at least 1 metre.

7. Tourist sites and Attractions must operate by observing the above listed Covid-19 protocols.

GTA will be embarking on a mass enforcement exercise with the Ghana Police Service. Operators are to note and comply so that they do not fall foul of the law.