The Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) has issued a renewed and urgent call for comprehensive regulation of Airbnb operations within the country, warning that the unchecked expansion of short-term rental platforms threatens to destabilize Ghana’s formal hospitality sector.
Speaking at the launch of the association’s 50th anniversary celebrations in Accra, GHA President Dr. Edward Ackah-Nyamike Jnr. underscored a critical imbalance in the regulatory framework governing accommodation services. While licensed hotels remain subject to a range of mandatory taxes and levies, including Value Added Tax (VAT), the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) levy, and the COVID-19 levy, Airbnb hosts often operate outside these obligations.
“Do Airbnb operators contribute their fair share to the national tax regime?” Dr. Ackah-Nyamike quizzed.
“If they’re bypassing key statutory levies, then what we are witnessing is not innovation it’s inequity.” He added.
According to the GHA, this regulatory gap allows Airbnb providers to undercut traditional hotels on price, not through operational efficiency or service differentiation, but by sidestepping the very costs that keep the formal sector compliant and accountable.
“In setting our rates, we factor in a host of statutory commitments. That’s not the case for many short-term rental operators, hotels are branded as expensive, while platforms like Airbnb offer what seems like affordable accommodation but at what cost to the ecosystem?” the GHA President lamented.
The association maintains that this issue transcends the concerns of hotel owners, touching the broader mandate of regulatory bodies charged with safeguarding quality, health standards, consumer protection, and revenue generation for national development.
“This is not just a GHA issue, its a matter for every agency tasked with oversight of the accommodation sector. If Airbnb is providing the same service in the same space, then it must be held to the same standard.” Dr. Ackah-Nyamike emphasized.
The GHA’s advocacy aligns with a broader global conversation about the responsibilities of digital platforms operating in traditional sectors. Around the world, cities and countries have introduced legislation to regulate short-term rentals in a bid to balance innovation with public interest.
The association’s golden jubilee, themed around sustainability and equity in hospitality, is being marked by a nationwide lineup of events including a health walk in Ho, a stakeholder symposium, and industry engagement sessions. Since its founding in 1975, the GHA has served as the voice of Ghana’s formal hotel industry, representing hotel owners, directors, and accredited managers across the country.
