Since the emergence of Coronavirus disease, the world has come to a virtual standstill as almost every sector of industry has been affected.
Probably, the only industry that is booming at the moment is the health care industry and its auxiliary groups because of the high demand for health care, medicine and its related accouterments (Personal Protective Equipment).
Talk of the aviation industry, the stock markets, the manufacturing industry, the mining industry and the real estate industry; and all of them are experiencing a downward plunge in terms of sales and production. And it is particularly because most big cities have gone into lock down to help curb community spread of coronavirus in their countries.
It is in lieu of this that the President of Ghana Hotels Association, Dr. Edward Ackah Nyameke Jnr has stated that hotels in Ghana will has to close down till the pandemic is over.
These hotels will exclude those being used by the government to quarantine over 1030 travelers who landing at the Kotoka International Airport on the day the government placed a ban on international travels (both incoming and outgoing traffic).
Since there are no economic activities going on in Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi areas, and since citizens in other cities of Ghana are remaining cautious about the whole coronavirus thing and it’s spread, hotels are hardly being patronized.
With between low to zero patronage in the hotels, it is becoming increasingly difficult to cater for utility bills and staffs wages.
Hence, most hotels will have no option than to down size their staff and close down to avoid incurring utility bills which cannot be serviced since there is no money coming in.
It is a worrying scenario especially for those “big” hotels who purchase perishables in large quantities. It will mean that these items will either have to be sold at subsidized prices or left to rot.
Dr. Edward Ackah Nyameke Jnr was speaking during an interview on TV3 via Skype where he was called to throw more light on the effect that coronavirus is having on the hospitality industry.
Dr. Ackah Nyameke was of the view that once coronavirus disappears, members of the association definitely know how to get back on their feets and go back to business.
However, no that the disease is peaking in Ghana and since sales are low, members of the Hotels Association will have no option than to close down till things get better.
Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi is on lock down for 2 weeks which is subject to review based on observations from the Ministry of Health, Ghana’s COVID-19 Emergency Response committee and the Presidency.
As at the time of reporting, Ghana’s COVID-19 count stood at 161 cases with 31 recoveries and 5 deaths.
Source: depunch.com
Ewurama Acheampoma