The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has shut down the Elmina SSNIT Hotel in the Central Region for failing to meet the minimum operational requirements prescribed under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2239.
The enforcement exercise was carried out on Friday, August 14, 2026, by officials of the Ghana Tourism Authority in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service.
Following the closure, official notices were mounted at strategic locations within the facility, including the main entrance, reception area and notice board, informing the public about the decision.
The notice stated: “The public is hereby informed that this facility has been closed down for failing to meet the minimum requirements provided under Legislative Instrument 2239.”
Speaking to 1960news.com Central Regional correspondent Kwame Kakraba at the hotel premises after the enforcement exercise, the Central Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Charles Buabeng, said the facility had failed to satisfy the regulatory standards required for its continued operation.
According to him, the hotel had also accumulated outstanding arrears spanning more than one year, further contributing to the enforcement action.
Mr. Buabeng directed the management of the Elmina SSNIT Hotel to immediately cease operations until all outstanding regulatory requirements had been addressed.
He also cautioned members of the public against patronising the facility while the closure remains in force.
The GTA regional director subsequently issued a strong warning to hotel operators across the Central Region, urging them to ensure that their facilities comply with the applicable tourism and hospitality regulations.
He said operators who fail to meet the required standards could face similar enforcement actions as the Authority intensifies its monitoring of hospitality facilities in the region.
The enforcement exercise was not limited to the Elmina facility.
Two other hotels, as well as a restaurant in the Cape Coast Metropolis, were also shut down by the GTA until further notice for regulatory non-compliance.
During the exercise, there was reportedly a confrontation between the Central Regional Director of the GTA and owners of some of the affected facilities as officials carried out the enforcement operation.
The latest closures form part of efforts by the Ghana Tourism Authority to ensure that tourism and hospitality establishments operate in accordance with the standards and requirements governing the industry.
The Authority is expected to continue its inspections and enforcement activities to compel operators to regularise their facilities and comply with the relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
Until the affected facilities satisfy the outstanding requirements and receive the necessary clearance to resume operations, the GTA has directed that they remain closed.
By Kwame Kakraba
