The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, has slammed the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government over what he described as the worsening economic conditions in the country.
In a video shared by Sunyani-based Ark FM on July 29, 2024, the Dormaahene, who vowed not to shy away from critiquing the government when things are not going well, was particularly unhappy about the depreciation of the Ghana cedi.
The paramount chief said that the dollar, which cost less than GH¢4 before the Akufo-Addo government came into power, now costs almost GH¢16.
He noted that the cedi's depreciation is the main reason the economy is in shambles and the citizenry is suffering.
"In 2008, I went to the UAE, and I changed $1 for GH¢3.7. When Kufuor was in power, a dollar cost about GH¢1. During Atta Mills' era, it rose to over GH¢2. When Mahama came to office, it was between GH¢3.7 to GH¢4.
"After the 7 or 8 years of this government, a dollar now costs about GH¢16. This is why we are suffering. I'm not the one in charge of managing the country's currency, and neither is any of the chiefs here. If things are not going well and everybody chooses to be silent, I won't be silent. I will speak out," he said in Twi.
Osagyefo Agyeman Badu II also slammed the government for attempting to sell 60% of the shares of four Social Security and National Insurance Trust hotels to Rock City Hotel Limited, which is owned by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.
"Recently, they tried selling some hotels and workers in Ghana told them not to. If you are going to sell the hotels, it should be to make them better, and you can't sell profitable hotels. The workers were against it, but they still wanted to sell the hotels. And they were even going to sell them to one of their own."
The chief added that all government officials are there to serve the citizenry's needs, and they cannot be "eating sardines" while the entire country is suffering.
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About the botched SSNIT hotel deal:
The entire country almost came to a standstill when Organised Labour declared a nationwide strike after the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, stated that the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) had approved the sale of the shares of the four hotels, including the Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Elmina Beach Resort, and Ridge Royal Hotel.
Organised Labour was infuriated by the government's insistence on selling the shares of the hotels, which it had stated was not in the interest of Ghanaian workers and should be cancelled.
Almost all labour unions in the country, including doctors, teachers, nurses, and civil servants, adhered to the order to not attend work from Monday, July 15, 2024, until the government announced the deal's termination.
Bryan Acheampong's Rock City withdrew its bid to buy the hotels, and SSNIT subsequently announced the termination of the deal to sell the hotels' shares.
Ablakwa’s role
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, brought the nation's attention to the deal to sell the shares of the SSNIT hotels.
The MP petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate allegations surrounding the sale of the hotels. He sought investigations into allegations including conflict of interest, abuse of power, lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, and graft.
Ablakwa even held a street protest, supported by the Trade Union Congress, to pressure the government to halt the sale of the hotels.
Watch the chief's remarks in the video below:
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