2012 Afcon: Accommodation headache for international media in Bata

International media covering the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations are grappling with the traditional challenges of accommodation in the major cities as far as Equatorial Guinea is concerned.

Bata and Malabo are the two cities in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea hosting matches of the tournament but most of the hotels are lying ideal due to their sub-standard charges.

In the coastal city of Bata, the economic capital, GNA Sports gathers that a standard room is going for at least 78,000 CFA Francs ($150) per night,  which is a neck-swindling rate, according to most of the foreign journalists covering the tournament.

Souleymane Amado, a Senegalese journalist tells GNA Sports he is co-habiting with two of his colleagues at the residence of a compatriot who has been living in Bata for a decade.

For Zambian reporter, Thomas Nkonda, he has no option than to make do with the $160 per night charge at Hotel Federaciones, which is the official hotel for the media.

Contrary to the complaints of the African journalists, a section of the media personnel from Europe and elsewhere are to some extent content with the situation.

Hernadez Francisco, a journalist from Spain has no problem with the rate at his hotel located along the beach.

“The rate is cool for the package that includes breakfast and free internet access. I’m enjoying my stay, no complains yet,” said the Spaniard, who spends almost $200 per day on accommodation, food and transport.

Meanwhile, GNA Sports can confirm that accommodation charges are at a constant rate despite the fact that it is on a higher side by African standards.

The factor can never be said to be a problem for the controllable media in Bata, which houses team such as co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Libya and Zambia.

Source: GNA