Sunyani (BA), June 28, GNA - The Brong Ahafo regional branch of Ghana Hotels Association has called for the re-constitution of the board of directors of the Ghana Tourist Board. The Association said in a communiqu=E9 passed by 46 members at a meeting in Sunyani that the Board had remained in office for too long and there was the need to inject dynamism into it. The meeting discussed an adverse report of the Tourist Board on hotels in the region and new strategies to improve the operations of hotels in region. The communiqu=E9 indicated that for Tourist Board to function effectively its Board of Directors must be proactive in addressing new challenges.

Mr. Philip Kofi Ntiamoah, Brong Ahafo regional chairman of the Association appealed to the Value Added Tax Service to cancel the payment of penalty on VAT returns as it had been assumed that most members of the Association granted credit facilities to government institutions, which delayed the payment of VAT. "Until they receive payments from government institutions it is always difficult to look for money elsewhere to pay for VAT", he said.

The regional chairman commended some hotels, including Eusbett Hotel and Regent Resort Hotel in Sunyani for winning awards in the just ended 2008 awards night for hotels in the forest zone held in Kumasi. Mr. Ntiamoah advised members to appreciate the reduction of copyright fees by the Copyright Society of Ghana and make prompt payment in order not to infringe on copyright laws. Mr. Francis Tapena, Brong Ahafo regional director of Ghana Tourist Board advised people willing to invest in the hotel industry to procure licences before operating. Mr. Adu Gyamfi, proprietor of South Ridge Hotel in Sunyani asked hoteliers to install fire extinguishers on their premises in order to avoid prosecution at the law courts by the Ghana National Fire Service.