Nations Cup hotels clampdown

Sekondi-Takoradi will be inundated by Nigeria and Ivory Coast fans

Several hotels in the Sekondi-Takoradi area have been closed due to safety concerns.

These include the hotel that will host the Nigeria team in the Nations Cup in January.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) ordered the closure of eight hotels because they fell short of standard fire safety regulations.

"These hotels have been shut because they have not complied with fire regulations," GNFS Fire Commander, Nana Ekow Abban told BBC Sport.

"All hotels, restaurants and tourist facilities must have a fire certificate.

"However, these hotels are eager to make amends and they are currently being inspected for the required fire certificate."

Abban admitted that the upcoming Nations Cup tournament was a huge motivating factor in this week's clampdown on hotels in the area.

"We don't want to embarrass our nation," he said.

"We will have visitors from all over the continent and we want to ensure that they will be safe in our hotels."