The Ghana Progressive Hotels Association (GHAPROHA) has raised concerns over the rising cost of utility services, warning that the trend is threatening the operations and long-term sustainability of hotels nationwide.

The association has appealed to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to engage the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Company Limited to improve service delivery and ensure fairness and transparency in billing.

Speaking at GHAPROHA’s maiden meeting for 2026, the National President, Emmanuel Geadda Asando, said hoteliers were under significant strain due to unreliable and costly utility services.

He pointed to the persistent water supply challenges in the Tema Metropolis as a major obstacle, noting that the situation was affecting service quality and driving up operational expenses for hotels.

Mr Asando stressed that utility providers must deliver value for money, lamenting that many hotels were being billed heavily for electricity and water despite receiving what they described as substandard services.

According to him, some operators have had to depend on alternative sources such as water tankers and power generators to keep their facilities running, further increasing their cost of doing business.

Beyond utility concerns, he said hoteliers were also burdened by multiple levies, fees and rates imposed by various state agencies, describing the cumulative effect as unsustainable for the industry.

While acknowledging the government’s decision to scrap the COVID-19 Levy, Mr Asando noted that other existing charges continue to weigh heavily on hospitality businesses.

He cautioned that failure to address these challenges could hinder tourism growth and dampen investor confidence, emphasising that the hospitality sector remains a vital component of Ghana’s tourism value chain.

Mr Asando therefore called for stronger collaboration between government, regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions that support business growth while safeguarding consumer interests.

The meeting brought together hotel owners and managers in the Tema area to discuss pressing industry concerns and outline the association’s strategic direction for 2026.