President of Ghana Hotels Association Dr Edward Ackah-Nyamekeh has revealed that hotels in Ghana will be laying off more workers in the coming days.
This comes following the inability to access the stimulus package earmarked by the government to support businesses.
The government devoted GH¢600 million as stimulus package to support businesses deal with the impact of the Covid-19.
But Dr Ackah-Nyamekeh told Alfred Occansey on the Sunrise morning show on 3FM Thursday, August 6 that two months after members of his Association applied to benefit from the earmarked stimulus package being disbursed by the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), the hotels have not yet received any positive feedback.
This has further pushed them into difficulties in the wake of the effect of the pandemic, he said.
“Two months after the applications commenced, we are yet to receive anything and the two months after the applications means five months into the pandemic.
“We have been on the roof shouting but the excuse that we have been given is that they started with the micro businesses, those who requested for the GH¢1000 and the GH¢1500.
“They are also talking of the numbers that applied, hundreds of thousands and so they are having to move in phases.
“Right from the beginning we said the idea of giving the NBSSI that money to share was a non-starter. They promised that once you get the application in two weeks, you will get the disbursement but two months and no show.
“As we speak now some of the hotels are talking of redundancy. From March up to June, we all play the wait and see game that maybe government will come in but it is becoming obvious.”
By Laud Ayensu|3news.com|Ghana