The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini has sent a strong warning to the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) to desist from spreading false information to the public as such messages tends to affect the veracity of subsequent news items.
According to him, the GTA must learn to speak via one channel adding countervailing others will not help the country in the fight against coronavirus.
Speaking on an Accra-based radio station, the Tamale Central MP said “Both factions were not on the same page before the notice went out. They should not have issued their circular without consulting the sector Minister”
Mr. Fuseini also added that as and when the Ministry dropped its counter notice, it should have ordered the Tourism Authority to redraw their early message but it failed to.
This call comes after a statement was released by the Ghana Tourism Authority on Wednesday saying ‘Drinking Bars could operate but must observe the social distance directive.
The sector Minister, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, later in the day, released a counter statement stressing that ‘Drinking Bars should still remain closed’
The two statements have spark controversies on social media as a sector of the public expressed disappointment saying the sector Minister and the GTA are confusing themselves.
“It would have been prudent for the Public Relations (PR) of the Ghana Tourism Authority to wait for Ghanaians to have access to the release to understand if President Akufo-Addo had lifted or eased the restriction on drinking bars operating likewise hotels. We do not know or can’t tell” he said.
Hon. Fuseini also hinted that the world will not be the same again even if the virus is cured.
He stressed that the hospitality industry has been heavily affected by the COVID-19.
The Tamale Central MP who also doubles as a Member of the Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture also explained that there are lots of countries that are being affected by the virus.
He said “Because of its impact, I am sure they stood on that directive to see how they can ease the devastation effect of the disease in the country. To be honest with you, the earlier communique did not have any bad motive since President Akufo-Addo in one of his updates started that the food chain operators are exempted. He never said hotels should not work”
Hon. Fuseini reiterated that coronavirus is a very dangerous disease.
He called on Government to prioritise the Tourism Industry since that is a sector that generates lots of revenue for the country.
“As a member of the committee on tourism, arts and culture, I think with the social interventions and supports from Government to other Institutions, the Tourism Industry must be the first. In some jurisdictions, the tourism industry receives the support first” he noted.
He stated that although Industries are still working, luxury products are not being purchased unlike essential things which is gaining patronage.
He said “The Tourism sector is an industry that generates lots of revenue for the country because of its relationship with other industries. If they are hard hit, Government should put them among the relief packages”
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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