The Ghana Tourism Authority's Bono Regional Director, Kwame Darko, led an enforcement team to shut down Royals Lodge in Sunyani on September 23, 2026. The facility was accused of operating as an unlicensed guesthouse that functioned mainly as a venue for sexual encounters rather than a legitimate hotel. Darko stated that the property could not be described as a proper hotel, but rather an "ashawo hotel" or brothel.
According to officials, the facility was shut down on instructions from the government, and the operators would now be processed for court. During the inspection, officials raised concerns about the state of the rooms, noting used condoms scattered around the premises. The facility's owner claimed the rooms were unoccupied at the time, but officials found personal belongings suggesting otherwise, and some young women were found lodging there.
The enforcement team demanded documentation from the lodge's operators, including a fire safety report and a police report, both of which are typically required before a guesthouse can legally operate. However, the facility could not produce these papers despite having been in operation for a considerable period. The team also found that the facility lacked a licence to operate.
Royals Lodge was not the only casualty of the exercise, as at least one other facility in the region was shut down during the same operation for similarly lacking a licence. The crackdown reportedly affected multiple hotels across Bono Region. The exercise signals a tightening of enforcement around guesthouses that have long operated informally, often without basic safety certifications.
Unlicensed facilities can pose safety risks to guests and complicate efforts to regulate the hospitality sector, which is meant to be overseen by the Ghana Tourism Authority. The Authority is responsible for licensing and inspecting hotels, guesthouses, and other tourism-related businesses to ensure they meet minimum operational and safety standards.
The operators of the shut facilities are to be processed for court, though no court date or specific charges have yet been disclosed. It remains unclear how many other guesthouses across the Bono Region may be affected by similar enforcement action, or whether the Authority plans further inspections in the near term.
The shutdown of Royals Lodge was a result of a joint effort between the Ghana Tourism Authority and other government agencies. The facility's owner, identified as an NPP women's organizer, reportedly had a habit of engaging officials in lengthy discussions whenever they visited in the past. However, on this occasion, the director instructed his team to lock up the unit, remarking that enough was enough.
Key points
- The Ghana Tourism Authority shut down Royals Lodge in Sunyani for operating as an unlicensed brothel.
- The facility was found to be operating without basic safety certifications, including a fire safety report and a police report.
- The shutdown is part of a larger effort to regulate the hospitality sector and ensure that guesthouses meet minimum operational and safety standards.
