La Villa Boutique Hotel

My father and I, both Black Ghanaians, came to the hotel restaurant around 11 a.m. for a business meeting with a white foreign guest who was staying there. The restaurant was nearly empty, with just one other table occupied, and those guests left soon after we arrived. Nobody told us the space might be noisy or unsuitable for a conversation. If we had been warned before sitting down, we could have chosen outside or moved right away. Instead, technicians, I believe working on the air conditioning unit near our table, began making noise for an extended period. They dragged plastic coverings, spoke loudly over one another, and moved around without regard for the guests. The waitstaff were also calling loudly across the restaurant. Then the technicians switched on a machine so loud that all three of us stopped talking and turned toward it. We couldn't continue the meeting. A waitress eventually spoke to the technicians. I believe she had a distinct horizontal mark on her left cheek, which I mention only to identify her. I was so shocked by what happened afterward that I didn't think to check her name tag. My father calmly began explaining how long the disruption had been going on and that it was inappropriate, but she didn't acknowledge him or me. She turned only to the white guest. Her tone became polite and apologetic, unlike the harsh way she'd spoken to the technicians. She kept eye contact with him, addressed him respectfully, and suggested that HE might want to move or leave while the work continued. The two Black Ghanaians at the same table were treated as though we weren't there. There was no apology or acknowledgement to the table as a whole, or to the other guests. The difference in treatment was obvious and uncomfortable. We weren't staying at the hotel, but we were guests of someone who was, attending a professional meeting in the restaurant. The disruption affected all of us equally, so any apology or solution should have included all of us. That's basic hospitality and professionalism. Guests shouldn't be seated beside active maintenance without warning. Loud repairs shouldn't happen in a dining area during service hours, or guests should at least be told to stay away beforehand. Staff need to communicate clearly, manage disruptions proactively, and show everyone at a table the same courtesy and respect. Being treated with such disregard in my own country was deeply disappointing. This reflects badly on staff training, service standards, and management oversight. I hope management takes the incident seriously and addresses the underlying problems.

I stayed here twice on my visit to Ghana, and the rooms really vary. My first was fantastic, the next only so-so. The better one had strong air conditioning, a great shower with good pressure, and a large bathroom. In the other, the AC was weak, the sink clogged, and the shower water swung from cold to hot. Restaurant staff were courteous and quick, though breakfast options are limited. The front desk could be slow, uncommunicative, or unresponsive, and sometimes made me feel they were doing me a favor when I asked for something. There's a small gym that's sufficient and a plunge pool.

A comfortable hotel with everything you might need during a stay. It's got a lot of soul, though it could probably use a bit of refurbishing before too long.

I felt safe throughout, both on the hotel grounds and in the surrounding neighborhood. The grounds are beautiful and peaceful, and the pool is a quiet spot to unwind beside the restaurant, where the food was good. My room was spacious, clean, and comfortable, and the staff were friendly and helpful. No complaints, I'd definitely recommend it.