Atlantic Lobsters and Dolphin Ltd denies Racism allegation

Is Racism a talk of the past or rather something that was lingering around the African continent to come back at us? This is a question that some Ghanaians have been asking themselves as the Atlantic Lobsters and Dolphin Ltd, operators of an "infant" club at Osu is alleged to have disallowed a certain Ghanaian lady an entry into the club because of her black colour.

The lady, who gave her name as Elizabeth, is reported to have gone to the club which was recently opened as an extension to the Atlantic Lobsters and Dolphin Ltd which deals in serving seafood. According to this embittered lady, she together with her white Spanish friend reached the entrance of the club only for her white colleague to be given a membership register to join the club but she was shown the exit because she is black. She quoted "No, it is for white people only" as the utterance of a man who stood at the entrance of the club.

This seemingly racist statement has recently stirred the rage of some Ghanaians who share the same belief that this company could be perpetuating racism in their own country.

Meanwhile Marco Ranaldi, a worker at the Atlantic Lobsters and Dolphin Ltd, has debunked this allegation saying it is a complete fabrication.

Speaking to Xfm 95.1, he said the club is operational to all persons irrespective of their colour, sex, age or race. He intimated that both blacks and whites patronize the club and as a result it would be unreasonable for any of the club's operators to reject a person because he or she is black.

He described the allegation as baseless saying "we should be fools to exclude anybody...majority of people here are Ghanaians so why, we should do something like that". Despite his denial, he however confirmed that before a person can enter the club, he or she must be a member with a membership card. His justification was that the members of the club are taught "how to preserve, cook and serve fish".

He stated that only members are permitted to eat from the club, therefore, adding that their unusual kinds of delicacies might have been a turn off to Ghanaians and other black people, hence, leaving people with the impression that the company is discriminating against the black community.

But this explanation seems to be taken with a pinch of salt by a section of the Ghanaian society as they push forward to find out which party is telling the truth.

Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana