Last Friday (February 6), I went out with four female colleagues to the Movenpick bar/lounge for a girls' night out after work to celebrate the birthday of one of us. While sitting in the lobby and waiting for the birthday girl, we noticed that groups of girls after another were being turned away at the gate which was manned by two bouncers.
I wondered why they were being turned away but quickly forgot about it when the birthday girl arrived. Imagine my shock when we got to the gate and we were told by the bouncers that the new rule by management of the hotel was that no female or groups of females should be allowed in without a male escort. They could not give us the reason behind this rule but we were turned away because we were all women.
While we were leaving, we saw a group of about seven ladies with one gentleman approach the gate and they were let in.
What exactly did we need a male escort to do for us? We left the hotel extremely upset about this new regulation that has been put in place.
I think the management should rethink this policy. It doesn't make any sense and my colleagues and I were extremely offended.
So a group of professional women who have worked hard all week want to relax and celebrate a friend but they can't do so at the Movenpick bar just because they are women? Is that not discrimination on the basis of gender? Is that not against the law?
I know I am definitely not going to patronise that place again but I think the tourism board or whoever is in charge should bring the management of the hotel to order! Gender discrimination should not be tolerated anywhere in this country!
Dr Katherine Attoh,
37 Military Hospital,
Accra.
