The President of the Ghana Hotels Association, Dr. Edward Acker Nyameke has stated that the Association did not receive any significant support from the National Board of Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) COVID-19 stimulus package.
According to him, the fund disbursed to members of the Association could not cater for the major issue facing the hotel industry.
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He expressed his disappointment as he noted that their industry was treated “like any other micro business”.
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He shared this with host Samuel Eshun during an interview on the Happy Morning Show.
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“The major issue that faced the hotels at the time salaried payment because the hotel closed down and the staff was looking forward to some form of salary.
No hotel received any significant support from NBBSI and we have made that very clear and also registered our displeasure”.
He added that as a capital intensive industry, members expected a tailored approach type of funding but clearly “when the request went to NBBSI, they treated us like all those micro-companies giving a hotel 3000, 5000, 10,000 Ghana Cedis for salaries”.
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Meanwhile, Dr. Nyameke has expressed confidence that President Nana Akufo-Addo will see to their situation when they soon meet him to deliberate on issues.
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The government, last year, set aside an amount of GH¢600 million to be disbursed in the form of loans to small-scale businesses through the NBSSI.
This was to cushion them from the adverse economic impact brought on the country by the Coronavirus pandemic.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah