Prof. Godfred Alufar Bokpin has advised the Members of Parliament seeking to present a bill to the House to bar public officials from purchasing State assets to reconsider their decision.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has promised to sponsor a private member’s bill in Parliament in a bid to prevent politicians and politically exposed persons from purchasing state assets.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, the legislator was hopeful that the bill when passed would address the gaps in the current legal regime which is being exploited by political actors.
According to him, enacting an effective legislation would ensure compliance by public officeholders.
But, the University of Ghana Business School lecturer thinks Ghana is “not there yet.”
Instead, the Finance and Economics expert is advising the lawmakers to concentrate on conducting a thorough inquiry to all state capture under the current Republic, and further engage the public on the matter before embarking on such a cause.
According to him, engaging the public extensively on the matter will whip up public support for the bill.
On TV3’s New Day Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the Professor said: “I’ve heard that someone is sponsoring a private members’ bill [to ban public officials from purchasing state assets] I want to say we are not there yet.
“I want to propose that there should be first and foremost a comprehensive inquiry into state capture under the Fourth Republic. There should be proper channel of all assets, manifestation, let’s engage the public comprehensively so that whatever bill is presented will be accepted by all.”
He was commenting on the attempt by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to sell off its 60 per cent shares in some four hotels to the Minister of Agriculture, Bryan Abbey Acheampong.
The transaction, which appeared to be on the blindside of many, despite the Trust’s insistence that it advertised the bid, was disclosed to the public by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Organised Labour, following the government’s refusal to back down on the transaction, after several calls to halt the sale amid a demonstration on the matter, declared a nationwide strike which compelled the government to rescind its decision.
In light of the development, a former Chief Justice, Sophia Abena Boafowaa Akuffo, accused the Trust of deliberately running down the hotels just like other state enterprises so they could share the assets amongst themselves.
Meanwhile, SSNIT has denied the claims saying it used due process to grant the bid to the Agric Minister, Bryan Acheampong.
Commenting on the issue, Prof. Bokpin added that the TUC acted too late on the matter.
“My considered view is that, TUC woke up too late. They probably woke up around midday when work started around 6am. They woke up too late because they have one too many of these issues in this country,”
SSNIT hotels saga: Running down State institutions cuts across even public universities – Bokpin
