Ghana Tourism Authority sanctions Dynasty Restaurant (Front page)
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has slapped further
sanctions on the Dynasty Chinese Restaurant for operating under unhygienic
conditions.
The restaurant, which holds a ‘grade one’ licence from the
GTA, meaning it is among the top restaurants in Ghana, has been asked to
renovate its kitchen to acceptable standards before it will be allowed to
operate.
That aside, the restaurant will pay between GH¢500 and
GH¢1,000 as penalty for operating in unhygienic conditions in the wake of the
cholera outbreak that has claimed more than 100 lives, with more than 12,000
people hospitalised.
The Public Relations Manager of the GTA, Mr Ben Ohene-Ayeh,
told the Daily Graphic that the
authority was not impressed by conditions in the kitchen of the restaurant;
days after the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) had ordered its closure.
“We have asked them not to open until they put the place
right and then call us for re-inspection. Then we will certify them before they
will be allowed to open. Until we are satisfied with conditions in the kitchen,
they cannot operate,” he said.
Closure
and issues arising
The AMA last Thursday took its fight against cholera to Osu
in Accra with the closure of the Dynasty Chinese
Restaurant.
The move was part of a crackdown on unhygienic restaurants,
eateries and chops bars in the capital in the wake of the cholera epidemic.
The kitchen had grease and soot accumulated on the heat
extractors; the walls were dirty, while a defective gas cylinder there had a
stone on top of the regulator, probably to prevent leakage.
Most of the stoves were rusty and appeared to have outlived
their usefulness. Cobwebs were all over, while a pungent smell hang around the
place.
There was algae around the pipelines and the water tank,
while a lorry tyre filled with murky water and what was suspected to be
mosquito larvae lay close to the entrance of the kitchen.
Although it was closed down by the AMA, the restaurant
defied the directive, until the Daily Graphic publication of September 27, 2014 showed
evidence that it was still operating.
GTA
licensing process
The GTA licences all hotels, restaurants, chop bars,
eateries and cafes after satisfying itself that those outfits have permits from
the AMA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ghana National Fire
Service and clearance from the police.
The authority then conducts an independent check on the
facilities before licences are given.
It conducts an annual inspection before the licences are renewed.
Ironically, in the case of Dynasty, the inspection carried
out by the GTA in January approved its facilities, but nine months down the
line, the kitchen had deteriorated to such an extent that it was shut down by
the AMA.
“We were not happy with what we saw yesterday. But we were
influenced by the report we had received in January to issue the licence,” Mr
Ohene-Ayeh said.
Asked whether after nine months of the GTA inspection,
things could deteriorate to such an extent, he said while he would not defend
the restaurant, it could be possible that the pressure on it because of high
patronage could be a contributing factor.
He observed that the situation was not the best, as it could
paint a bad image of the country in the minds of tourists.
He said the GTA occasionally carried out spot checks six
months after giving out the operating licences to ensure that the facilities
met acceptable standards, including good operating environments.
Mr Ohene-Ayeh said the GTA was working with the AMA to deal
with the situation and called for greater collaboration among regulatory
institutions.
Should
customers inspect kitchens?
The Dynasty closure triggered public debate on the right of
customers to inspect the kitchens of restaurants where they eat.
But a Chief Quality Control Officer at the GTA,
Mrs Roberta Dawson-Ahmoah, had a contrary opinion.
She said for quality control purposes, it would be
uncomfortable for guests to walk in to assess the kitchens of restaurants,
adding that it might result in abuse that might disrupt the services of the
restaurants.
She, however, said consumer advocacy groups could be allowed
to carry out those inspections.
“It is not everybody who is allowed near food preparation
areas for contamination reasons. You may not know the health status of people.
They may have cold and may not be even properly dressed,” she added.
The
Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has slapped further sanctions on the
Dynasty Chinese Restaurant for operating under unhygienic conditions.
The restaurant, which holds a ‘grade one’ licence from the GTA, meaning it is among the top restaurants in Ghana, has been asked to renovate its kitchen to acceptable standards before it will be allowed to operate.
The restaurant, which holds a ‘grade one’ licence from the GTA, meaning it is among the top restaurants in Ghana, has been asked to renovate its kitchen to acceptable standards before it will be allowed to operate.
That aside, the restaurant will pay between GH¢500 and GH¢1,000 as
penalty for operating in unhygienic conditions in the wake of the
cholera outbreak that has claimed more than 100 lives, with more than
12,000 people hospitalised.
The Public Relations Manager of the GTA, Mr Ben Ohene-Ayeh, told the Daily Graphic that the authority was not impressed by conditions in the kitchen of the restaurant; days after the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) had ordered its closure.
“We have asked them not to open until they put the place right and then call us for re-inspection. Then we will certify them before they will be allowed to open. Until we are satisfied with conditions in the kitchen, they cannot operate,” he said.
The move was part of a crackdown on unhygienic restaurants, eateries and chops bars in the capital in the wake of the cholera epidemic.
The kitchen had grease and soot accumulated on the heat extractors; the walls were dirty, while a defective gas cylinder there had a stone on top of the regulator, probably to prevent leakage.
Most of the stoves were rusty and appeared to have outlived their usefulness. Cobwebs were all over, while a pungent smell hang around the place.
There was algae around the pipelines and the water tank, while a lorry tyre filled with murky water and what was suspected to be mosquito larvae lay close to the entrance of the kitchen
Although it was closed down by the AMA, the restaurant defied the directive, until the Daily Graphic publication of September 27, 2014 showed evidence that it was still operating.
The authority then conducts an independent check on the facilities before licences are given.
It conducts an annual inspection before the licences are renewed.
Ironically, in the case of Dynasty, the inspection carried out by the GTA in January approved its facilities, but nine months down the line, the kitchen had deteriorated to such an extent that it was shut down by the AMA.
“We were not happy with what we saw yesterday. But we were influenced by the report we had received in January to issue the licence,” Mr Ohene-Ayeh said.
Asked whether after nine months of the GTA inspection, things could deteriorate to such an extent, he said while he would not defend the restaurant, it could be possible that the pressure on it because of high patronage could be a contributing factor.
He observed that the situation was not the best, as it could paint a bad image of the country in the minds of tourists.
He said the GTA occasionally carried out spot checks six months after giving out the operating licences to ensure that the facilities met acceptable standards, including good operating environments.
Mr Ohene-Ayeh said the GTA was working with the AMA to deal with the situation and called for greater collaboration among regulatory institutions.
But a Chief Principal Quality Control Officer at the GTA, Mrs Roberta Dawson-Ahmoah, had a contrary opinion.
She said for quality control purposes, it would be uncomfortable for guests to walk in to assess the kitchens of restaurants, adding that it might result in abuse that might disrupt the services of the restaurants.
She, however, said consumer advocacy groups could be allowed to carry out those inspections.
“It is not everybody who is allowed near food preparation areas for contamination reasons. You may not know the health status of people. They may have cold and may not be even properly dressed,” she added.
- See more at:
http://graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/31461-ghana-tourism-authority-sanctions-dynasty-restaurant.html#sthash.rIVC4j2f.dpufThe Public Relations Manager of the GTA, Mr Ben Ohene-Ayeh, told the Daily Graphic that the authority was not impressed by conditions in the kitchen of the restaurant; days after the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) had ordered its closure.
“We have asked them not to open until they put the place right and then call us for re-inspection. Then we will certify them before they will be allowed to open. Until we are satisfied with conditions in the kitchen, they cannot operate,” he said.
Closure and issues arising
The AMA last Thursday took its fight against cholera to Osu in Accra with the closure of the Dynasty Chinese Restaurant.The move was part of a crackdown on unhygienic restaurants, eateries and chops bars in the capital in the wake of the cholera epidemic.
The kitchen had grease and soot accumulated on the heat extractors; the walls were dirty, while a defective gas cylinder there had a stone on top of the regulator, probably to prevent leakage.
Most of the stoves were rusty and appeared to have outlived their usefulness. Cobwebs were all over, while a pungent smell hang around the place.
There was algae around the pipelines and the water tank, while a lorry tyre filled with murky water and what was suspected to be mosquito larvae lay close to the entrance of the kitchen
Although it was closed down by the AMA, the restaurant defied the directive, until the Daily Graphic publication of September 27, 2014 showed evidence that it was still operating.
GTA licensing process
The GTA licences all hotels, restaurants, chop bars, eateries and cafes after satisfying itself that those outfits have permits from the AMA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ghana National Fire Service and clearance from the police.The authority then conducts an independent check on the facilities before licences are given.
It conducts an annual inspection before the licences are renewed.
Ironically, in the case of Dynasty, the inspection carried out by the GTA in January approved its facilities, but nine months down the line, the kitchen had deteriorated to such an extent that it was shut down by the AMA.
“We were not happy with what we saw yesterday. But we were influenced by the report we had received in January to issue the licence,” Mr Ohene-Ayeh said.
Asked whether after nine months of the GTA inspection, things could deteriorate to such an extent, he said while he would not defend the restaurant, it could be possible that the pressure on it because of high patronage could be a contributing factor.
He observed that the situation was not the best, as it could paint a bad image of the country in the minds of tourists.
He said the GTA occasionally carried out spot checks six months after giving out the operating licences to ensure that the facilities met acceptable standards, including good operating environments.
Mr Ohene-Ayeh said the GTA was working with the AMA to deal with the situation and called for greater collaboration among regulatory institutions.
Should customers inspect kitchens?
The Dynasty closure triggered public debate on the right of customers to inspect the kitchens of restaurants where they eat.But a Chief Principal Quality Control Officer at the GTA, Mrs Roberta Dawson-Ahmoah, had a contrary opinion.
She said for quality control purposes, it would be uncomfortable for guests to walk in to assess the kitchens of restaurants, adding that it might result in abuse that might disrupt the services of the restaurants.
She, however, said consumer advocacy groups could be allowed to carry out those inspections.
“It is not everybody who is allowed near food preparation areas for contamination reasons. You may not know the health status of people. They may have cold and may not be even properly dressed,” she added.
The
Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has slapped further sanctions on the
Dynasty Chinese Restaurant for operating under unhygienic conditions.
The restaurant, which holds a ‘grade one’ licence from the GTA, meaning it is among the top restaurants in Ghana, has been asked to renovate its kitchen to acceptable standards before it will be allowed to operate.
The restaurant, which holds a ‘grade one’ licence from the GTA, meaning it is among the top restaurants in Ghana, has been asked to renovate its kitchen to acceptable standards before it will be allowed to operate.
That aside, the restaurant will pay between GH¢500 and GH¢1,000 as
penalty for operating in unhygienic conditions in the wake of the
cholera outbreak that has claimed more than 100 lives, with more than
12,000 people hospitalised.
The Public Relations Manager of the GTA, Mr Ben Ohene-Ayeh, told the Daily Graphic that the authority was not impressed by conditions in the kitchen of the restaurant; days after the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) had ordered its closure.
“We have asked them not to open until they put the place right and then call us for re-inspection. Then we will certify them before they will be allowed to open. Until we are satisfied with conditions in the kitchen, they cannot operate,” he said.
The move was part of a crackdown on unhygienic restaurants, eateries and chops bars in the capital in the wake of the cholera epidemic.
The kitchen had grease and soot accumulated on the heat extractors; the walls were dirty, while a defective gas cylinder there had a stone on top of the regulator, probably to prevent leakage.
Most of the stoves were rusty and appeared to have outlived their usefulness. Cobwebs were all over, while a pungent smell hang around the place.
There was algae around the pipelines and the water tank, while a lorry tyre filled with murky water and what was suspected to be mosquito larvae lay close to the entrance of the kitchen
Although it was closed down by the AMA, the restaurant defied the directive, until the Daily Graphic publication of September 27, 2014 showed evidence that it was still operating.
The authority then conducts an independent check on the facilities before licences are given.
It conducts an annual inspection before the licences are renewed.
Ironically, in the case of Dynasty, the inspection carried out by the GTA in January approved its facilities, but nine months down the line, the kitchen had deteriorated to such an extent that it was shut down by the AMA.
“We were not happy with what we saw yesterday. But we were influenced by the report we had received in January to issue the licence,” Mr Ohene-Ayeh said.
Asked whether after nine months of the GTA inspection, things could deteriorate to such an extent, he said while he would not defend the restaurant, it could be possible that the pressure on it because of high patronage could be a contributing factor.
He observed that the situation was not the best, as it could paint a bad image of the country in the minds of tourists.
He said the GTA occasionally carried out spot checks six months after giving out the operating licences to ensure that the facilities met acceptable standards, including good operating environments.
Mr Ohene-Ayeh said the GTA was working with the AMA to deal with the situation and called for greater collaboration among regulatory institutions.
But a Chief Principal Quality Control Officer at the GTA, Mrs Roberta Dawson-Ahmoah, had a contrary opinion.
She said for quality control purposes, it would be uncomfortable for guests to walk in to assess the kitchens of restaurants, adding that it might result in abuse that might disrupt the services of the restaurants.
She, however, said consumer advocacy groups could be allowed to carry out those inspections.
“It is not everybody who is allowed near food preparation areas for contamination reasons. You may not know the health status of people. They may have cold and may not be even properly dressed,” she added.
- See more at:
http://graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/31461-ghana-tourism-authority-sanctions-dynasty-restaurant.html#sthash.rIVC4j2f.dpufThe Public Relations Manager of the GTA, Mr Ben Ohene-Ayeh, told the Daily Graphic that the authority was not impressed by conditions in the kitchen of the restaurant; days after the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) had ordered its closure.
“We have asked them not to open until they put the place right and then call us for re-inspection. Then we will certify them before they will be allowed to open. Until we are satisfied with conditions in the kitchen, they cannot operate,” he said.
Closure and issues arising
The AMA last Thursday took its fight against cholera to Osu in Accra with the closure of the Dynasty Chinese Restaurant.The move was part of a crackdown on unhygienic restaurants, eateries and chops bars in the capital in the wake of the cholera epidemic.
The kitchen had grease and soot accumulated on the heat extractors; the walls were dirty, while a defective gas cylinder there had a stone on top of the regulator, probably to prevent leakage.
Most of the stoves were rusty and appeared to have outlived their usefulness. Cobwebs were all over, while a pungent smell hang around the place.
There was algae around the pipelines and the water tank, while a lorry tyre filled with murky water and what was suspected to be mosquito larvae lay close to the entrance of the kitchen
Although it was closed down by the AMA, the restaurant defied the directive, until the Daily Graphic publication of September 27, 2014 showed evidence that it was still operating.
GTA licensing process
The GTA licences all hotels, restaurants, chop bars, eateries and cafes after satisfying itself that those outfits have permits from the AMA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ghana National Fire Service and clearance from the police.The authority then conducts an independent check on the facilities before licences are given.
It conducts an annual inspection before the licences are renewed.
Ironically, in the case of Dynasty, the inspection carried out by the GTA in January approved its facilities, but nine months down the line, the kitchen had deteriorated to such an extent that it was shut down by the AMA.
“We were not happy with what we saw yesterday. But we were influenced by the report we had received in January to issue the licence,” Mr Ohene-Ayeh said.
Asked whether after nine months of the GTA inspection, things could deteriorate to such an extent, he said while he would not defend the restaurant, it could be possible that the pressure on it because of high patronage could be a contributing factor.
He observed that the situation was not the best, as it could paint a bad image of the country in the minds of tourists.
He said the GTA occasionally carried out spot checks six months after giving out the operating licences to ensure that the facilities met acceptable standards, including good operating environments.
Mr Ohene-Ayeh said the GTA was working with the AMA to deal with the situation and called for greater collaboration among regulatory institutions.
Should customers inspect kitchens?
The Dynasty closure triggered public debate on the right of customers to inspect the kitchens of restaurants where they eat.But a Chief Principal Quality Control Officer at the GTA, Mrs Roberta Dawson-Ahmoah, had a contrary opinion.
She said for quality control purposes, it would be uncomfortable for guests to walk in to assess the kitchens of restaurants, adding that it might result in abuse that might disrupt the services of the restaurants.
She, however, said consumer advocacy groups could be allowed to carry out those inspections.
“It is not everybody who is allowed near food preparation areas for contamination reasons. You may not know the health status of people. They may have cold and may not be even properly dressed,” she added.
Comments
Post a Comment