Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has expressed shock over President’s Akufo-Addo’s refusal to halt the sale of some four hotels belonging to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu has indicated that following the President’s pronouncement that persons who want to enrich themselves should not venture into his government but rather the private sector, he did not expect him to oversee such state capture going on for him to keep mute over it.
Mr. Ablakwa made the statement whilst indicating that the President has invited Organised Labour for a talk over the sale of the assets on Tuesday, June 25.
On the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, June 22, 2024, the MP cautioned the President not to make any attempt to convince Organised Labour for the transaction to take place.
The legislator says the President should have halted the sale by now if he was indeed determined to curb corruption as he had told Ghanaians when he assumed office.
“Organised Labour has informed me that the president has invited them to a meeting on the 25 of this month which is Tuesday and we hope that it will not be another attempt to convince Organised Labour because I’m so disappointed in this President that he has taken so long to intervene in this scandalous matter and just stop this rot.
“The President who told us that he will not entertain this, that people who want to engage in transactions of this nature should stay in the private sector, he is the one superintending over this mess and he is watching on as his appointees offer all kinds of ridiculous explanations, throwing challenges that they know that when they are exposed, they will be embarrassed. Won’t the government stop this mess?” he questioned.
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has been questioned by many on its decision to sell off 60 per cent of its stake in Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Beach Hotel, Ridge Royal Hotel, and Busua Beach Hotel to Agric Minister, Bryan Abbey Acheampong.
The matter came to limelight following a revelation by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The disclosure has generated series of debate with many raising issues of conflict of interest, with Mr. Ablakwa adding that the MP did not secure permission from the Speaker to embark on that profitable venture which is against the provisions of Parliament.
On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, Mr. Ablakwa led a “Hands off our Hotels” demo where a petition was presented to the President to halt the sale of the hotels.
Ablakwa has also alleged that Rock City Hotels, owned by Bryan Acheampong, which the hotels are being sold to, are currently incurring losses according to the company’s financial statement he intercepted.
But Bryan Acheampong, who is also the MP for Abetifi, has promised to dash Ablakwa a house at Trassaco and a hotel in North Tongu, if he is able to prove his allegations of the company running at losses.
“If he indeed has documents that prove that Rock City Hotel filed its 2023 taxes and we are making losses, let him bring it forth. If it’s true, I have a house at Trassaco, it’s new and unused. I bought it in 2014, and I will gift it to him,” he told Nana Yaa Brefo Danso, host of Yen Nsempa on Onua FM Thursday, June 20, 2024.
“If he is able to prove that Rock City’s 2023 account is making losses, in fact, in his constituency, North Tongu, there is a hotel owned by Rock City –Akosombo Continental Hotel, –if he is able to prove it, that hotel is for Rock City, and I will give it to him as well. He should prove it,” he added.
In a recent social media post, Mr. Ablakwa has also alleged that a company belonging to the son of Freddie Blay, Spartan-Ives Limited, is among the shortlisted companies to buy a stretch of land near the Labadi Beach Hotels. Mr. Kwaw Blay, has already indicated his decision to sue the MP.
Responding to the sale of the hotels, Mr. Blay, a former Chair of the NPP said he doesn’t understand why Organised Labour is protesting in public when the Board that took the decision included their representative.
He says he would have loved to buy the sixty per cent stake in the four SSNIT hotels being offered the Minister of Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, if he had the money.
“If the board says this is the way, irrespective of my individual protest or my disagreement with it, the decision that we have taken is binding on us,” he told 3FM’s Beatrice Adu.
“I would have loved to buy if I had the money because I have a good idea. My son convinced me. I don’t know on what basis they (Organized Labour) have taken their decision. SSNIT took a decision, and I don’t have any questions about that,” the Board Chair of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) said.
‘Hands Off Our Hotels’ Demo: Sale crucial to safeguard investments – Ahiagbah
