Entertainment
GTA moves to address price hikes in December
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has expressed its commitment to address price hikes during the yuletide.
There has been plethora of reviews pointing to the fact that some players in the Tourism trade ecosystem increased their prices during the yuletide.
Against this backdrop, GTA has put measures in place to address the concerning situation.
This was brought to light on Tuesday, January 13, during GTA CEO’s stakeholder engagement with the media.
Addressing a question, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Maame Efua Houadjeto, said, people normally took advantage of the Christmas season to increase the prices of their goods and services.
This notwithstanding, she said there would be proper regulations in place and employ the services officers to go round and report those fleecing their clients.
She added that they would advertise places who comply on their website, and other platforms as well as attach their prices.
On his part, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GTA in charge of Marketing and Special Duties, Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, said they have met various trades associations under GTA and engaged them on the consequences of such actions.
“The Ghana Tourism Authority, on our part, have met our stakeholders – the various trade associations under the Tourism sector, hotels, car rentals and all that, and our appeal to them was not to take advantage of the festive season,” he said.
He further added that “if you have 100 room occupancy and you think that GTA has marketed the December in Ghana for more people to come and you hike your prices, you will not break even.”
Mr Aggrey advised that business was a sustainable long term investment and for that reason the target should not be making profit everyday by taking advantage of clients.
He called on the media to join the GTA educate the public and stakeholders.
The media engagement held from January 12-13, was part of GTA’s high-level stakeholders’ meeting, bringing together key players across Ghana’s tourism value chain to set the tone for the year ahead.
The engagement, the first of its kind for the year, was attended by representatives from across the tourism industry, including hospitality operators, tour operators, event promoters, cultural and heritage stakeholders, and allied service providers.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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Award-winning Ghanaian musician, Michael Owusu Addo, affectionately called Sarkodie has described his annual event, Rapperholic concert as bigger than just a music event, highlighting its significant economic impact.
In a post after a successful Rapperholic edition in Kumasi, the rapper noted that the concert stimulates economic activity across Kumasi, Accra and the wider Ghanaian economy.
According to him, this is driven through tourism, hospitality, transportation, food, fashion, media, advertising, employment and the creative supply chain.
“The economic value of this concert extends far beyond ticket sales. It includes visitor spending, revenue for local businesses, temporary jobs created, suppliers paid and the future tourism and commercial opportunities generated by the event,” he stated.
Sarkodie called on government and the private sector to seize the opportunity to build an ecosystem where Ghanaian entertainment generates measurable economic value, supports businesses, creates jobs and attracts visitors.
“Let’s invest in our creative economy. The potential goes far beyond the stage,” he added.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Multiple award-winning dancehall artiste Emmanuel Andrew Samini popularly known as Samini is set to return to his Dansoman base with the much-anticipated Samini Experience on December 24.
The musician, who has nurtured top talents from the community in the past, says this year’s edition will be held in collaboration with the Dansoman Homecoming Carnival, to make the event bigger.
Speaking to the media at Kegali Hotel during a press launch on Friday, October 16, Samini said activities including a clean-up exercise, health walk, Children’s Day and games will take place from December 18 ahead of the main event.
According to him, the choice of Dansoman is to give back to the community where it all started.
He added that the event was also aimed at nurturing future talents by giving them a platform to showcase their abilities.
He disclosed that some music legends from Dansoman and other big names in the music industry will be on the bill to thrill patrons.
Samini also revealed that the Dansoman Exhibition streets will be blocked to make way for the unforgettable night of music.
He expressed appreciation to the Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly for their collaboration to ensure the success of the programme.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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