|
President Kufuor inaugurates the new city hotel
Kumasi, Jan. 12, Ghanadot/GNA- President
John Agyekum Kufuor, on Saturday inaugurated the 21.2
Million-Dollar refurbished Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel,
formerly Known as the City Hotel, one of the nation's
foremost prized assets in the hospitality industry.
He said Ghana Government was determined to buy back some of
the state-owned hotels sold out under questionable
conditions and sale terms.
President Kufuor said government was resolved to "salvage
these national monuments, which must not be allowed to decay
further and get ruined completely."
He noted that despite the recent additions, the number of
hotels, especially those in the star-rated category fell far
below the national requirement, given the country's growing
investment and business attraction.
President Kufuor said the re-birth of the City Hotel, was so
much appreciated and urged hotel operators to work under
clean environment and provide quality service.
Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the Finance Minister and Chairman of
the Ghana Libyan Arab Holding Company (GLAHCO), said the
refurbishment of the hotel was a manifestation of the
confidence Ghana's investment partners continued to have in
the country's economy, especially in the rapidly improving
business environment.
"The progress made towards this objective also fulfils the
aspiration of the leaders of the two Sovereign States, Ghana
and Libya, towards mutual co-operation."
Mr Baah-Wiredu said the well functioning and internationally
star rated hotel would enhance the reputation of Kumasi and
contribute significantly to its economy.
He said there were plans to rehabilitate Golden Tulip Accra
to bring it to modern standards and said this would start in
May, this year and expected to be completed in six months.
Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Tourism and
Diasporan Relations, asked the workers of the hotel, to
ensure that service delivery was up to standard, avoid
pilfering and to see them-selves as part of the ownership.
Mr Abdulhamid Karmus, Managing Director of the GLAHCO, said
the opening of the hotel was yet another success story of
the joint co-operation for economic development between
Ghana and Libya.
Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister,
challenged the management of the facility to create the
necessary environment and avenues for the promotion of
domestic tourism, conference tourism and to help to project
the rich Ashanti culture.
With the refurbishment of the hotel, Kumasi, which is one of
the venues for the 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament is
now ready to host match officials, footballers and soccer
fans of the 2008 African Cups of Nation to be held in the
country this month.
The facility has 160 guest rooms, a restaurant, a lobby bar,
swimming pool, health club facilities, conference and
meeting rooms with total seating capacity of 500 people.
The GLAHCO, an investment company established in the early
1980s by the Government of Ghana and the Government of
Libyan, under a bilateral and investment agreement, owns the
hotel.
GNA
|
