News:
November 2, 2011
The Member of Parliament for Atiwa, Kwasi Amoako-Attah has welcomed the closure of the Atlantic Lobster and Dolphins Limited, which is a restaurant operating in Osu, Accra.
The restaurant, which is run by and owned by two Italians, Marco Ranaldi and Salvatore D’azeo was closed down by the government on Tuesday.
The facility was closed down after the Tourism Ministry discovered that the restaurant turned club was in violation of the laws of Ghana.
Locals had also alleged that the club accepts only whites and blacks are turned away.
Elizabeth Okuro, a half Ghanaian-half Nigerian, who visited the club, is alleged to have been recently told in the face by the manager of the facility that she could not register as a member of the club because she is not White.
The police subsequently moved in to commence investigations to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the matter.
Contributing to a panel discussion on e.tv’s Breakfast TV show, Hon. Kwasi Amoako –Attah commended the government for the swift manner it closed down the restaurant, adding that any attempt by foreigners resident in Ghana to prevent Ghanaians from accessing certain public places must be strongly resisted.
He said Ghanaians have far too long allowed themselves to be demeaned and cheated in so many ways and is about time that a bold step in taken to end that practice.
“We read and hear reports of some Ghanaian workers being dehumanized by their superiors at their workplaces through various cruel acts’’ he said
Hon. Amoako Attah added that after investigating the matter and if found culpable, government must go beyond just closing down the restaurant and actual see to the deportation of the operators of the facility.
He believes this would send a clear signal to the outside world that Ghanaians are not “push overs” and that Ghana will not tolerate any acts of discrimination against its citizens.
Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh