Oteng Gyasi clarifies GTA, Tourism Ministry confusion…drinking bars, night clubs to remain closed.

Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture Minister, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi has insisted that her outfits circular regarding hospitality service providers, still holds.

Speaking at the Ministry Of Information’s press conference on Thursday morning, Oteng-Gyasi clarified the Ministry’s enforceable position.

”The Ghana Tourism Authority in a press statement, eased up restrictions for the hospitality industry, by indicating that Food Chains and Restaurants could operate sit-down services by observing social distancing protocols. The circular also indicated that drinking bars could operate and observe social distancing protocols. But night clubs remain closed.”

”However, we wish to clarify that further to the directive of His excellency the President, regarding the extension of the ban on public gatherings, the status quo remains the same. This means that bars, drinking bars, and night clubs remain closed. They cannot operate. Food chains and restaurants can operate take-outs and delivery services. This means that you can go to your food chain, order your food, and take it away. The same applies to restaurants. Alternatively, you could place a phone call and ask for the order to be delivered to you wherever you are” she clarified.

Prior contradiction.

Earlier this week, the Ghana Tourism Authority in a press statement, eased up restrictions for the hospitality industry, by indicating that Food Chains and Restaurants could operate sit-down services by observing social distancing protocols.

The circular also indicated that drinking bars could operate and observe social distancing protocols. But night clubs remain closed.

“All hotels can operate as normal and host their guests, subject to the specified elevated hygiene protocols and social distancing. Food chains and restaurants can operate sit-down, as well as, pickup and delivery services while observing appropriate social distancing and hygiene protocols…Drinking bars can operate while observing appropriate social distancing and hygiene protocols,” the GTA’s statement had said.

However, the Tourism Ministry moved quickly to squash the circular on Wednesday evening, throwing stakeholders into a state of confusion.

The Ministry insisted that Food Chains and Restaurants, including Hotel Restaurants, can only operate take-out and delivery services. The Ministry also insisted that all drinking bars and night clubs were to remain closed as previously directed by President Akufo-Addo.