The Leadership of the Ghana Hotels Association has held a media launch of its upcoming 5th GHA Awards slated for January 2022 in Accra. According to the organizers, the upcoming awards relate to 2020/21. Speaking to Journalists in Accra on Thursday, he said "The pandemic came into the system in March 2020 and it has been with us since then and has affected us in various ways. One of the things that stand out is how the hotels have survived” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/groom-abandons-wife-grinds-backside-of-his-ex-at-their-wedding-reception-see-bride-s-reaction He hinted that the pandemic caused other hotels to shut down completely. “Most of the hotels have been able to survive and I believe that is the mark of resilience. That is something that has come out of the struggle of the hotel to stay alive. The other aspect is sustainability, which has to do with shared responsibility” He stressed that the upcoming Awards will look at celebrating members who have demonstrated such resilience. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/photos-lil-win-missing-in-action-at-bill-asamoah-s-mother-s-funeral-as-likee-and-others-represent He added that the hotel industry is appealing to the government to put in measures to help sustain the hotel industry. Dr. Nyamike Jnr cited high taxes, regulatory fees, maintenance costs among others as major challenges facing the hotel industry. “We are using the awards to draw the attention of the government to play its responsibilities while we also play ours as hoteliers” he appealed. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/offinsomanhene-nana-wiafe-akenten-iii-reported-dead He revealed that the hotel industry had some expectations when the pandemic struck, however, the ‘free-water given by the government had to be paid since there was a misunderstanding between the Presidency and Ministry. In a panel discussion, the General Manager (GM), Eusbett Hotel said “Sometimes I see that it looks as if suddenly we're prepared for something that could happen not COVID. Nobody knew of COVID coming, but we have put in some measures that ensure that throughout the period we're able to at least move around the flute Indonesia that we don't think though. One of them was, we have our own greenhouse farming within the hotel, so it has a vegetable and those things we produce them. And we have gone into our own put a cattle ranch” He also said “So we have our own, of course, that is not sufficient to supply the needs of a router on a daily basis but we add on from the market. And we had also invested some five four years ago in solar energy. So, Scylla is when the energy expenditure has dropped by about two days. So, when the COVID came, we decided that we have some of these measures that will sustain us a little. Can we look at a system where we can operate throughout? Fortunately for us, we did not have a shutdown, as those articles for the masses but, so we decided that Okay, let's go into sustainability, how can we ensure that the community who is around us can still benefit from us, even within the panda because we are not like Accra” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/mahama-ofosu-ampofo-know-nothing-about-takoradi-kidnapping-case-ndc He said “The hotel industry is using a lot of people to pay for on the hotel, three P's of sustainability are looking at profits, you're looking at a planet, and then you're looking at the people. So, people, we have asked that were them are people who have moved from Accra to simulate come and work with us evolve with their families. If we had to let them go. What will happen to them? They have dependence depended on them” On his part, the General Manager of Labadi Beach Hotel, Rene Vincent -Ernst said “So how can we work in hand with something that's become part of our life, and that is COVID-19 whether your volunteers are safe. So we need to find out ways are working with” He further said “It's very true that the government was very quick and very smart, I have to say in closing our borders and so forth. I think that was a phenomenal thing to do. Today, we begin to see a few illustrations and so forth which is good. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/mce-confirmation-my-people-should-expect-improvements-in-infrastructure-hon-aminu-zakari He mentioned that he has seen some tremendous ways in Ghana that are simply breathtaking. So, what we have learned is to turn our minds inward, and our marketing inward. By doing so, we have, we are now continued that our staycation domestic, domestic tourism rate has ensured that we are occupying 20% of our, of our overall occupancy into staycation and domestic tourism, and that's not a question of something that just happens out there, that means we need to get up and go and use the tools which are available to all of us, whether we are a small industry or where the buck stops” he added. The Director of Hiland Court Hotel, Hiram Laud Anderson hinted that being a small scaler, its problems were totally different from scales, especially when they were in the small towns. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/i-don-t-care-about-sista-afia-she-is-not-relevant-to-me-efia-odo-video “If God is to the possible outcome to do this way by one way in the local environment. They expect you to do more with us” “The quality became a real big problem for mega Pro for us because we do all these externalities, based on the business that we get. and when COVID came in a business virtually dried out. It was impossible for most of us, what says more or less in a small house ended up putting some of them in a few months after the governance is announced, and set up various methods” “Two anybody will tell you that the numbers were drastically reduced. Make more grey zone of the day, if I please everybody does any type of work on the handling brown the head doctor myself doing everything every day, and something that was done, and is very effective in that I'm going this route to make use of time and space, and I like I mentioned we know picking something up” he mentioned” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/ejura-committee-report-is-a-poor-attempt-at-cover-up-sammy-gyamfi-fires-video Responding to the comment from the hoteliers, the Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Ben Anane-Nsiah said “I think they need some pat on the back. By the way, congratulations, association, we were anticipating, from what we did in 2019, that by the end of 2020 We'll get about 1,000,001.45 years of research to Ghana. We are laid down the foundation for all those, The contacts the events and so on we are going on trade fairs, the US kind of push the numbers, and so on” “I'm coming to that, you know, to what we did and we work together with it with the private sector, got to open so on. We, we did our initial impact assessment which will present a run about me. You know, just to give an idea of what, for example, how many people have lost their jobs, how many hotels have closed down, because if you tell me now that okay, I have 25 workers who have been laid off” “Last year, how many people were there, and the reasons why sometimes we had challenges with the data is, you know, this country has come through a period where, if you were rich, everybody was suspicious about you I'm talking about the 70s commercial where your money comes from as well. So people were a little reluctant to provide between the taxman or hit them” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/hertha-berlin-manager-worried-about-kevin-prince-boateng-s-fitness He stressed that although the Ghana Tourism Authority is making demands for data from operators of which they do not get full compliance, it paints a picture about the performance of the industry. Mr. Anane-Nsiah noted that the hotels were put outside a category of small scale because they had a certain threshold number of people. “So we work with a World Tourism and Travel council to get somebody safe travel stamp for Ghana. We have to let them know that these are the COVID protocols in the country. These are the measures in our hotels, and the answer so they're actually investing very expensive equipment, and so on and so on. So that globally” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/ghana-outdoors-national-tourism-customer-service-brand-ambassador-caleb-kofie-video “Ghana is not hiring, because we realize that we are doing things right if you do come here because even though that is coming towards him was to go on all day to pick up, you know, gradually, so that we had to do and they will have to put us as a renewed emphasis on encouraging domestic tourism because empty hotels break everybody's hearts, I mean it's a problem, okay, you know, so, Yes, it's tough, but I think” he averred. Watch the videos below: https://fb.watch/8wb9EvF_rY/ Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghana has held its 1st National Tourism Customer Experience Leaders Summit 2021 in the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra. According to the seasoned panelists, it is about time Ghana and Africa see the role and impact of customer care service on corporate governance. The seasoned panelists who were drawn from the tourism and the hospitality industry also discussed the impact of government policies on businesses within the industry. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/groom-abandons-wife-grinds-backside-of-his-ex-at-their-wedding-reception-see-bride-s-reaction On her part, the Executive Director of Hospitality Amplified in the United States, Daphne Spencer said “Ownership is one of the things that is missing because in the U.S, with every Organisation, I have worked for, there are core values that the organizations have from the onset when you are being onboarded, you become a part of that company and they invest in you” “In Hilton, on my day one in my office and they have my favorite flowers and there was a bottle of water that welcomed me and a welcome note from the team” She added that companies need to start treating their internal guests, i.e. employees with the same priority and regard as they treat pay-in guests. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/photos-lil-win-missing-in-action-at-bill-asamoah-s-mother-s-funeral-as-likee-and-others-represent She added that when such gestures are provided to employees, they feel welcomed and work whole-heartedly. “Every individual wants these three things. That is to be heard, understood, and to feel that they are off-value to you so Organisations have to adopt the concept that you have an internal guest, they are also equally important as the external paying guests. President of the Ghana Hotels Association, Dr. Edward Ackah Nyamike Jnr said “The Hotel Industry survives on the movements of people. From February to April, we got to ground zero due to the restrictions of movements. Because of the restrictions both locally and internationally” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/offinsomanhene-nana-wiafe-akenten-iii-reported-dead He hinted that over the period, there have been different responses from various hotels based on the budgets of the people. “On the average, we are yet to get to the pre-covid era, even tho the restrictions have been removed” He stressed that he is confident the Hotel Industry will bounce back. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/mahama-ofosu-ampofo-know-nothing-about-takoradi-kidnapping-case-ndc President of the Car Rental Association of Ghana, Seth Yeboah Ocran said “You often hear this word ‘freedom of association’ in this country but if you look at the legal fraternity, if you do not belong to the Ghana Bar Association, you can’t practice law in Ghana. Let me use the car rental, my member. You will realize that only 6% or 7% of people die on our roads each day. I can tell you that with car rental operators, we have accident-free records because somebody is watching. We have trackers in the cars” He advised Authorities to take a second look at certain laws in the country. Mr. Ocran commended the Ghana Tourism Authority for its good work. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Agyemang also said “I will call it a shared effort and responsibility” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/mce-confirmation-my-people-should-expect-improvements-in-infrastructure-hon-aminu-zakari He charged Organisations to see the need of giving their workers and guests better treatments. Mr. Agyemang praised the staff of Labadi Beach Hotel for exhibiting a high level of professionalism when it emerged that a client had left her purse of which she later found with its content intact. Also, high commissioners from Rwanda, Kenya, and Nigeria took turns to make solidarity statements and applauded the service excellence foundation for establishing the national tourism customer service week in Ghana, and pledge to offer their support in the future. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/i-don-t-care-about-sista-afia-she-is-not-relevant-to-me-efia-odo-video They were drawn from Rwanda, Nigeria, South Africa, Nambia, Kenya, Liberia, Togo, and Ghana. The Deputy Minister used the occasion to outdoor Mr. Caleb Kofie as the Tourism Customer Service Brand Ambassador. Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Over the years, the role of customer service within the tourism global market which includes allied partners within the value chain continues to serve as the key brand differentiator between business organizations. This year, in furtherance to developing and promoting customer service excellence as a tourism brand and a strategic tool for sustainable jobs creation, stimulating investor confidence, and accelerated economic growth service excellence foundation under the auspices of the Ghana tourism federation, in partnership with Ghana Tourism Authority and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture as part of marking the national tourism customer service week celebration scheduled from the 4th to 8th October 2021 organized the 1st national tourism customer experience summit. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/groom-abandons-wife-grinds-backside-of-his-ex-at-their-wedding-reception-see-bride-s-reaction The event which was held at the Labadi Beach Hotel was on the theme ‘Redefining excellence through service experience’ The event was well attended by industry captains within the tourism and the hospitality sector which included some members from the diplomatic missions representing Rwanda, Nigeria, South Africa, Nambia, Kenya, Liberia, Togo, and Ghana. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/photos-lil-win-missing-in-action-at-bill-asamoah-s-mother-s-funeral-as-likee-and-others-represent The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey who was the special guest of honor said “Ghana must accept the era of the buyers’ market and not the sellers’ market as the covid pandemic era has clearly compelled business stakeholders to redefine their priorities.” The Deputy Minister after his address outdoored Mr. Caleb Kofie as the Tourism Customer Service Brand Ambassador. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/offinsomanhene-nana-wiafe-akenten-iii-reported-dead Mr. Kofie was also presented with a citation which read “In recognition to your passion, dedication, and commitment to promoting the national customer service excellence advocacy and leading the tourism in Ghana to establish the national tourism customer service week to be celebrated by the good people of Ghana in the month of October each year” During the stakeholders’ dialogue, seasoned panelists drawn from the tourism and the hospitality industry discussed the role and impact of customer service on corporate management governance as well as the impact of government policies on businesses within the industry. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/mahama-ofosu-ampofo-know-nothing-about-takoradi-kidnapping-case-ndc To this end, the high commissioners from Rwanda, Kenya, and Nigeria took turns to make solidarity statements and applauded the service excellence foundation for establishing the national tourism customer service week in Ghana and pledge to offer their support in the future. Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Hertha Berlin manager Pal Dardai is not satisfied by the contribution of experienced forward Kevin Prince Boateng to the team. The 34-year-old rejoined his boyhood club in the summer transfer window but has struggled to play beyond sixty minutes for the capital club. Although he also adds a lot in terms of experience and inspiration, the young Hertha team currently find themselves two places above the drop zone following the 2-1 defeat to Freiburg. The Ghanaian forward was replaced by Dennis Jastrzembsk after 59 minutes against Freiburg. "Kevin either plays a good half or 60 minutes, that's always the plan. And we knew that with him beforehand," said Pal Dardai. "Every game looks good for 20 minutes as long as Kevin has the strength. However, that is not enough for Hertha, which is already back in the basement." Prince-Boateng has made five appearances for so far and he is yet to score and provide an assist for Hertha Berlin in the 2021/22 season. Credit: Ghanasoccernet.com

Twitter keeps getting better and better! September was another month for some major product announcements made to enhance the microblogging and social networking service. Here is a recap of the announcements over the past month. Product news Sep 1: *Twitter introduces Super Follows* Twitter is testing Super Follows in the US and Canada, which allows you to subscribe to your favourite creators on Twitter for access to a whole new world of Tweets. https://twitter.com/TwitterSupport/status/1433144909406613506?t=OcbRoSdGOTUz2mpkSwl1bQ&s=08 https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/product/2021/introducing-super-follows Sep 7: Edge to edge Tweet Now testing on iOS: Edge to edge Tweets that span the width of the timeline so your photos, GIFs, and videos can have more room to shine. https://twitter.com/TwitterSupport/status/1435287486411022337?t=yDq3IbUOB054JJPdZ8OLVA&s=08 *Remove Followers, without blocking* Sep 7: Twitter is making it easier to be the curator of your own followers list. Now testing on the web, you can remove a follower without blocking them. https://twitter.com/TwitterSupport/status/1435323978734841857?t=Luug50BwGkcq69RhmPgO0Q&s=08 Sep 9: *Twitter launches Communities* Twitter is testing Communities, a way to easily find and connect with people who want to talk about the same things you do. https://twitter.com/HiCommunities/status/1435652955068411916?t=qMMksR8fhtshu0Lx7YpPYA&s=08 Sep 14: *Ticketed Spaces* All approved Spaces Hosts can now set ticket prices & audience size for Spaces. https://twitter.com/TwitterSpaces/status/1437816496638541835?t=-uMaRYosj5jmRPKMvIMX0g&s=08 Sep 22: *Twitter rolls out Updates* Over the next two months, Twitter will be rolling out updates to the way they show your Tweets so they don't disappear. https://twitter.com/TwitterSupport/status/1440766157884039170?t=Gl5pyUSxuGiddjPEqXZOLA&s=08 Sep 23: *Tips launched with more payment options* Tips is now rolling out to everyone (18+) on iOS. https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/product/2021/bringing-tips-to-everyone# *Health News* Sep 1: *Twitter introduces ‘Safety Mode’* Twitter introduces Safety Mode. A new way to limit unwelcome interactions on Twitter. https://twitter.com/TwitterSafety/status/1433099983016759302?t=2wCQ5Yg4BkoE-L-IBxnMhQ&s=08 Sep 9: *#GoodBots* Twitter is making it easier to identify #GoodBots and their automated Tweets with new labels. They are testing these labels to give you more context about who you're interacting with on Twitter. https://twitter.com/TwitterSupport/status/1436073604173770754?t=yP6eAs_PKFClv-EyOlQvbQ&s=08 Sept 24: *Filter and Limit* Twitter is exploring new controls called “Filter” and “Limit” that could help you keep potentially harmful content — and people who might create that content — away from your replies. https://twitter.com/paulabarcante/status/1441457192712818692?t=jgs3L13XuPYsE_802ZBGIw&s=08 @Twitter remains your official source for what’s happening Credit: Twitter

Ghanaian giants Hearts of Oak have announced an imminent partnership with German Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim and MLS side FC Cincinnati. The Ghana Premier League champions are currently in advance negotiation with the European and American clubs with the process expected to be finalized before the end of the week. The partnership is dubbed as the "Common Value Club Alliance", the first of it's kind where a club from Africa, Europe and America come together to share expertise. The Common Value Club Alliance will focus on three aspects, which includes Education, Technical Know-how, impact and sustainability. Head of Corporate affairs at TSG Hoffenheim, Stefan Wagner, who is in the country spoke about the importance of the partnership and how it affects the holistic development of youth football. TSG Hoffenheim is one of the fastest developing clubs in the Bundesliga and FC Cincinnati is known for their world class facilities in the United States. Both club's have Ghanaian players, with Kassim Adam representing the European club while David Atanga plays in the MLS with Cincinnati. Below is a statement from Hearts of Oak on the partnership: Credit: Ghanasoccernet.com

A photographer has taken to social media to narrate how she deleted the wedding photos of his friend at the ceremony because she was treated poorly at the ceremony and was denied food and water. According to the photographer, she works as a dog groomer and frequently photos her clients’ dogs on her Facebook and Instagram pages . She had been invited to a friend’s wedding, but when the friend asked if she might be the photographer instead, she agreed to assist and accepted a “mate rate” that most wedding photographers would balk at. “A friend got married a few days ago and want to save money, asked if I’d shoot it for them, I told him it’s not really my forte but he convinced me by saying he didn’t care if they were perfect: they were on a shoestring budget and I agreed to shoot it for $250, which is nothing for a 10-hour event, she recounted. “I started around 11am and was due to finish around 7:30pm, around 5pm, food is being served and I was told I cannot stop to eat because I need to be [the] photographer; in fact, they didn’t save me a spot at any table. I’m getting tired and at this point kinda regretting doing this for next to nothing. It’s also unbelievably hot: the venue is in an old veteran’s legion and it’s like 110°F and there’s no AC.” “I told the groom I need to take off for 20min to get something to eat and drink, there’s no open bar or anything, I can’t even get water and my two water bottles are long empty. He tells me I need to either be [the] photographer or leave without pay. She revealed that the mean treatment she was subjected to by the groom made her very irritated and as a result, she deleted all the photos and videos she had taken during the event right in front of the groom and exited the ceremony. “With the heat, being hungry, being generally annoyed at the circumstances, I asked if he was sure, and he said yes, so I deleted all the photos I took in front of him and took off saying I’m not his photographer anymore.” Credit: riddimsghana.com

President of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye has set a standard for all African countries to follow after he sacked all his government officials who are married but have side chics or concubines. According to reports, the president was said to have through the ministry of Internal Security, which was head by Gervais Ndirakobuca called for sanity to be brought back into the country as he intends to make things right by beginning with people who occupy government positions. The new development has created a lot of fuss on social media after people who heard the news expressing their delight as to how things are been done in the country. According to the new development, any married man who happens to have a side chic would be affected by the new rule which has already been implemented. President Evariste Ndayishimiye revealed that this new directive comes as a measure to curb the high rate of pregnancy that are been caused by the married men. He further revealed that the new order would make people responsible for their own actions and deeds. Check the tweet below: Source: gossips24.com

The Leadership of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) says its attention has been drawn to the unsafe use of Injectable glutathione which is being promoted on social media for skin lightening and bleaching. According to FDA, consumers are to take note that no Injectable glutathione or any other injectable skin lightening agent have been approved by the FDA for such use. In a communique signed by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), it said "So far there is no clinical evidence on the safety and effectiveness of these products and no published guidance guidelines for correct dosing and duration of treatment" "Injectable glutathione poses significant safety risk to users as its side effects include toxic effects on the liver, kidneys and nervous system and a serious reaction known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Glutathione which also affects the production of the pigment that gives the human skin its colour (melanin), may pose a risk of skin cancer with long term use." Below is a copy of statement: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Director of Administration at the Royal House Chapel, Dr. Dzifa Gakpleadzi has clarified that Dr. Jonathan Ohene Nkunim, the man at the center of the 'The Licensed Sex Predator' is neither an official nor a member of the church and has never been. According to the church, Dr. Nkunim was part of a ministration team of a guest pastor who had been invited to minister at the local church. Ion a communique signed by the Director of Administration, it said "After his opening worship for the guest pastor, he immediately left the service without any interaction with the host pastor or the leadership of our local church" She added that as such as admitted above, Dr. Nkunim is not known to Royalhouse Chapel in any capacity as the video mayp have suggested. The Leadership of the church is deeply saddened by the actions of the supposed minister of the gospel and prays for mercy and true repentance for his soul. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Leadership of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) says in order to eradicate and reduce product losses at its outfit, its Interim Management Committee (IMC) says it has commenced investigations into products storage and transfer losses. In a communique, TOR provided some of the incidents of product storage and transfer losses that have so far been discovered in the process. It said "The disappearance of 105,927 litres of Gas oil on 4th September, 2021 which belongs to a BDC client" It also sighted the wrongful loading of 252,000 litres of Aviation Turbine Korosene (ATK) instead of regular Kerosene into BRV Trucks at the loading gantry between 21st-25th September, 2021. The communique also touched on the disappearance of 18 drums of electrical cables worth GHc10.4 million from the Technical Storehouse of TOR discovered in April, 2021. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Legendary Nigerian Actress, Joke Silva, has debunked rumours of the death of her husband, Olu Jacobs. According to news making rounds on the internet, the veteran actor was rumoured to be dead. However, in an exclusive chat with The PUNCH, Joke Silva said her husband was hale and hearty. She said, “Don’t mind them, they’re just talking rubbish; don’t disturb your head. He is in the living room right now about to have Eba and Ogbono soup. Let them keep deceiving themselves. He is hale and hearty.” Credit: Ademola Olonilua