The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has reiterated its stance on the sale of some hotels belonging to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.
The Union, which has earlier threatened the “mother of all strikes” should government carry on with the sale of the hotels, has said the aim of some politicians is to come into office to grab state assets at the expense of the citizenry.
TUC’s comments stem from SSNIT’s decision to sell off 60% of its stake in four of its hotels across the country to private entity, Rock City Hotels, which belongs to the Agric Minister.
Head of Pubic Relations for the TUC, Naa Ayele Ardayfio Sekyere, speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints, noted that the focus of the state should be the interest of pensioners rather than grabbing state assets and reducing the discussion to politics.
This was after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) reps on the show began trading accusations.
Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, a Deputy Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, had accused Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, for sitting quiet at the time his party was in power and sold Merchant Bank to a private entity, even at a bid lower than what other companies presented, but appearing to be protecting the public purse now.
According to the Deputy Minister, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), whilst in power, rejected a US$91million bid and sold Merchant Bank for US$44million, something Mr. Chinnia says Okudzeto didn’t protest at the time.
Madam Ardayfio, who visibly appeared livid over the development indicated that it was the pensions of the Ghanaian worker that should be the focus rather than trading accusations.
She noted that some politicians come to power to purposely grab state assets at the expense of the citizenry.
“We need to ask the questions because I think sometimes people come into public service poor and then when they are leaving office, they are so filled and so corrupt, encankering everything in their way. So don’t let us reduce this discussion to politics. Let us look into pensions funds. People take GHC400 at the end of the month, isn’t that a big deal? And so for me if we have to sit here and trade accusations, –this party did this, this party did that, I’m sorry it’s not on,” she noted.
The discussion follows a revelation of the contract by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Mr Ablakwa in a petition to CHRAJ alleged that SSNIT is nearing the completion of divesting 60% of its shares in Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, and Elmina Beach Resort to Rock City Hotels Limited, a company owned by Bryan Acheampong.
He is, therefore, seeking an investigation into various allegations such as conflict of interest, abuse of power, lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, and graft.
Subsequently, both SSNIT and the Abetifi MP have come out to defend the transaction, describing the partnership as strategic and in the best interest of all.
