This document provides an overview of accommodation operations in Ghana. It begins with definitions of accommodation and discusses the historical evolution of accommodation in Ghana from the colonial era to present day. It describes the earliest forms of accommodation as chalets owned by colonial merchants and traces the development of hotels in Ghana from the pre-independence period onward. The document also outlines different types of accommodation establishments like inns, hostels, hotels and spas. It explains how accommodation in Ghana is classified into categories A, B and C as well as hotel star ratings from 1-5 stars based on facilities and services provided.

1. 1
ACCOMMODATION
OPERATION
(HCM 243)
By
Emmanuel Gamor

2. 2
Introduction
As like any other service based business, the Hotel/Hospitality business is affected by the shifts
in interest of people who patronised the hospitality product. We are however going to
concentrate on the lodging or accommodation aspect of the hospitality industry. In Ghana,
accommodation operations started over six decades ago.
The earliest form of accommodation in Ghana, the then Gold Coast, were the CHALETS
owned by colonial merchants. Over the years, accommodation in the country has evolved
through the colonial era, pre-independence era, up to the era of stagnation.
The general objective of this is to help students understand the routine methods of work in the
housekeeping.
Lesson One
Accommodation Services
Introduction
This Lesson introduces the student to the concept of accommodation, its evolution in Ghana,
and the various types of accommodation. It will focus on the definition of accommodation, the
types, and the overview of the hotel industry.
Accommodation which is also referred to as lodging is one of the most important
components of the hospitality industry. There are different variety of accommodation in
relation to the level of development of infrastructure and tourism in a country, community or
society. Accommodation has been deemed as the psychological base of every traveller or

3. 3
tourist (Cooper et al., 1993). This then means that there are different demands from different
travellers or tourists for different types of accommodation ranging from hostels to resorts.
Accommodation in Ghana has developed, over the years, into a fully-fledged aspect of
the tourism and hospitality industry.
This section begins with the definition of accommodation followed by the discussion
of the evolution or the historical perspective of accommodation in Ghana. It will also look at
the types of accommodation establishments, and the different classification of accommodation
facilities.
Learning Objectives
This Lesson aims to give students insight into what accommodation is. Therefore after reading
and studying this Lesson, readers are expected to be able to:
1. Define accommodation;
2. Trace the development of visitor accommodation in Ghana
3. Understand the types of accommodation establishments
4. Describe the various ways accommodation establishments are classified
Accommodation Defined
The term accommodation has been defined in different ways. However, for the purpose of this
study, it will be defined as ‘an establishment that provide facilities and services for sleep, rest,
relaxation and entertainment for people who are temporarily away from their usual place of
residence or work, in return for a fee’ (Mensah, 2009; p9).

4. 4
By function, accommodation is provision of clean and furnished sleeping place, food
and beverage services, business services (typing, printing, telephone service among others) to
people, mostly tourists or travellers, who are temporarily out of their usual environment.
The Historical Perspective of Accommodation in Ghana
Accommodation has existed for a long time. It began long before independence. The earliest
form of accommodation in Ghana has evolved over time into the modern accommodation
facilities in the post 2000 era. The evolution of accommodation in Ghana can be described in
eras which are:
1. Colonial era
2. Pre-Independence Era
3. Immediate Post-Independence Era
4. Era of Stagnation
5. Era of Rejuvenation
Colonial Era
The earliest form of accommodation in the then Gold Coast were the CHALETS owned by
the colonial merchants. These were:
1. Compagnie Française de l’Afrique Occidentale (CFAO)
2. United Africa Company (UAC)
These foreign companies were owning chalets that were located in the mountainous regions
(Aburi areas) and the beaches of the then Gold Coast. These chalets were those built in very
cosy environs. These facilities were guarded all year round and were used solely by expatriates
and their families.

5. 5
Pre- Independence Era
This era is noted for the beginning of the establishment of hotels in the country. Just before
independence (1957), six hotels were registered in the country. The first hotel that was
established in the country (Gold Coast) was Sea View Hotel which was located on the Accra
High Street.
Table 1: Licensed hotels in the Gold Coast, prior to independence
Hotel Location
Aams Hotel Accra-Nswam road
Ambassador Hotel Independence Avenue
Ringway Hotel Osu, Accra
Avenida Hotel Boundary road, Accra
Lisbon Hotel Airport, Accra
Sea View Hotel High street, Accra
Sources: Mensah, 2009; Handbook of Commerce and industry, Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, May 1951 and 1957
Immediate post-Independence Era
In this era, an even development of accommodation facilities across the country was started.
After independence, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah started establishing accommodation facilities across
the country. By 1962, there were a number of government owned accommodation facilities
spread across the country.

6. 6
Table 2: State owned accommodation facilities by 1962
Name of facility Location
Ambassador Hotel Accra
Star Hotel Accra
Continental Hotel Accra
Meridian Hotel Tema
Atlantic Hotel Takoradi
Eridec Hotel Koforidua
City Hotel Kumasi
Catering Rest House Bolgatanga/Tamale
Era of Stagnation
This was the period between 1977 and 1986. This period was characterised by political
instability and security threats. In this era, the demand for hotel accommodation fell so low
such that some collapsed. This was because people were afraid for their lives and that did not
want to travel to Ghana. Resident as well were afraid to travel due to Coup d’état.
Era of Rejuvenation
From 1987, the hotels in Ghana started growing again. There was peace in Ghana.
Accommodation in Ghana became fully-fledged and very competitive and as such
realised a phenomenal growth.
Unfortunately, the government drew away from the management in State owned
hotels. Hotels were placed on divestiture (sold) and the Ghana Investment Promotion

7. 7
Centre (GIPC) Act came to liberalise foreign investment. The liberalisation saw to the
birth of multinational hotels such as Novotel in the country.
Types of Accommodation Establishments
There are several types of accommodation facilities round the world. Some are
historically based whiles others are not. For our purpose, we will that a brief look at a
few of the main types of accommodation facilities.
Inn
This type of accommodation is one of the initial accommodation facilities in the world. It is
small, with rural setting and was popular during the Middle Ages/Dark Ages (AD 400-AD
500). It is a small rural lodging establishment that provides not only shelter, but food and
sometimes entertainment for travellers and the local people. In modern days, the Inns are more
like a bar or restaurant that has a sleeping place for a few people.
Spa
Named after a town in Belgium, this type of accommodation, originally, refers to an
accommodation facility that is cantered on a mineral spring that is thought of as having the
ability to heal. It can also be used to refer to a room in a hotel or in a resort that offer massage,
health and fitness, saunas/hot/steam bath.
Hostel
This is a relatively cheap accommodation facility that caters mostly for students. It also caters
for youngsters in transit. It provides little or no service for the guest and usually have common
kitchen where guests prepare their own food.

8. 8
Hotel
This accommodation type provides a variety of services to the guest including housekeeping,
room services, food and beverage service among others. This facility provides sleeping places,
meeting and conference room facilities, health facilities, and so on. Under hotels, there are,
major types which include: downtown hotels, boutique hotels/luxury/design hotels, convention
hotels, casino hotels and residential hotels.
Classification of Accommodation
There has been an attempt to classify accommodation facilities. Each country or region try to
classify accommodation into different categories. Ghana Tourist Board classifies
accommodation based on the Legislative Instrument LI 1205 and the New ECOWAS
Harmonized Standards for Accommodation and Catering Establishments. The LI classify
accommodation into e main Categories. Category A, B and C
Category A: Hotels, Inns and Motels
Category B: Catering houses, guest houses, lodgings
Category C: Rest houses
Hotels specifically have other classifications. Hotels in Ghana are classified into different
categories based on the services they provide and the facilities they have functioning and
available. They are grouped into stars and other ratings. They are as follows:
5-Star hotel – These are the luxury hotels
4-Star hotel – They are the 1st
class hotels
3-Star hotel - 2nd
class hotels
2-Star hotel - 3rd
class hotels

9. 9
1-Star hotel - 4th
class hotels
Guest houses, and Budget hotels
Criteria for rating hotels in Ghana
The classification of hotels in Ghana is based on the quality. Though accommodation can be
classified in different ways, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) uses the quality of services
provided by hotels, the personnel working in the hotel, and the various facilities available in
the hotel.
Table 3: Ghana’s Hotel Star Rating
Star rating Criteria
5-Star
(*****)
Providing luxurious accommodation and marked superiority in the extent
and quality of facilities, amenities and guest services (Mini bar in rooms,
24hr laundry services, several bars, restaurant and lounges, health club,
shopping arcade, among others).
4-Star (****) Provide superior quality furnishing and a complete range of facilities,
amenities and guest services (All rooms with bath, direct dial phone, radio,
TV, individual control heating and air conditioning, full room service, some
shops and sporting facilities).
3-Star (***) Provide better quality furnishing and a more extensive range of facilities,
amenities, and guest services (Private bath/shower, lounge, bar, restaurant,
staff assistance throughout the day).
2-Star (**) Provides more furnishing and some facilities, amenities and guest service
(Breakfast/dinning, room, TV lounge, etc).
1-Star (*) Provides basic furnishing and very limited or no facilities, amenities and
guest services (Hot and cold water in room, central heating, etc).
Source: Ghana Tourism Authority

10. 10
Self-Assessment
1. Define the term accommodation.
2. With reference to the major changes, trace the development of visitor accommodation
in Ghana.
3. What are the types of accommodation establishments you can think of?
4. Describe the various ways accommodation establishments are classified
References
Akyeampong, O. A. (1996). Tourism and regional development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A case
study of Ghana's Central Region. Stockholm, Sweden: Ph.D Thesis, Stockholm
University.
Akyeampong, O. A. (2007). Tourism in Ghana: The Accommodation Sub-sector. Accra: Janel
Publications Ltd.
Gabriel, Y. (1988). Working lives in catering. London: Routledge and Keegan Paul.
Gamor, E., Amissah, E. F., & Boakye, K. A. (2014). Work-family conflict among hotel
employees in Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, Ghana. Tourism Management
Perspectives, 12(C), 1-8.
Ghana Tourism Authority. (2011). List of Licensed Accommodation in Ghana. Accra:
Government of Ghana.
Halloway, J. C., & Taylor, N. (2006). The Business of Tourism (7th ed.). England: Pearson
Education Ltd.
Hellriegel, D., Jackson, S. E., Slocum , J., Staude, G., Amos, T., Klopper, H. P., . . . Oosthuizen,
T. (2008). Management ( 2nd South Africa ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hodges, J., & Baah, A. (2006). National Labour Law Profile: Ghana DIALOGUE, ILO. Accra:
Ghana Trades Union Congress.
Lashley, C., & Morrison, A. (Eds.). (2000). In search of hospitality: Theoritical perspectives
and debates. Oxford, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Lucas, R. (2004). Empoyment relations in the Hospitality and Tourism Industries. London:
Routledge.
Mei, A. W., Dean, A. M., & White, C. J. (1999). Analysing service quality in the hospitality
industry. Managing Service Quality, 136-143.

11. 11
Mensah, I. (2009). Management of hospitality services. Accra: Woeli Publishing Services.
Ministry of Tourism. (2012). 2012 Annual Performance Report. Accra: Government of Ghana.
Owusu-Mintah, S. B. (2012). Tourism education in Ghana: Occupational distribution of
graduates. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, 4(4), 523-
546.
Reed, N. (2001). Training: The future- Tourism. Industry Training Forum for Tourism and
Hospitality, (pp. 1-7).