Nana Akomea, a Deputy Chairperson of the Campaign Team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has chastised the Member of Parliament for North Tongu over his latest exposé on hotels of the state-owned Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), and which are being sold to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.
He said that while Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate Bryan Acheampong over the said transaction, he is making pronouncements as if the minister has committed a crime.
“Sammy Okudzeto has already pronounced on the matter. He is calling it sleazy and all kinds of accusations, which I don’t think is right.
“You must be careful with these matters. You’re calling people out for what you call engaging in sleazy acts, but you have called for an investigation by CHRAJ,” he chided the MP.
Akomea, the Managing Director of Intercity STC Coaches Limited, who made these remarks during a panel discussion on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme on May 17, 2024, pointed out that the fact that hotels were being sold to the minister does not mean that something wrong has been done.
He indicated that properties of SSNIT have been sold to politicians in the past, including leading members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The STC boss, who is a former MP and former Minister of Information, went on to list properties of SSNIT that were sold to leading members of the NDC without mentioning names, which were sent to him by a staff member of SSNIT.
“The minority owner in the SSNIT hotel in Cape Coast is a high-ranking NDC member. When this person bought it, the NDC was in power. The catering rest house in Tamale was also bought by somebody who is a high-ranking NDC member.
“The catering rest house in Sunyani was also bought by a high-ranking NDC member. The catering rest house in Kumasi was also bought by a high-ranking NDC member,” he stated.
He added that unlike the NDC bigwigs who bought properties of SSNIT when they were in power, Bryan Acheampong has proven that he can turn around hotels that are not making profit.
“Now these people are not even known to be hoteliers, unlike Bryan Acheampong, who has put up what people call the biggest hotel in Africa on his own, and so he is eminently qualified to run hotels that are failing,” he emphasised.
He added that the investigation by CHRAJ should be expanded to include all the SSNIT properties that were sold to politicians including members of the NDC.
Background:
Ablakwa alleged that six hotels belonging to SSNIT are being sold to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.
In a post shared on social media on Friday, 17 May 2024, the MP indicated that documents he has intercepted show that negotiations to sell 60% of the shares of the six SSNIT hotels to the minister’s Rock City Hotel Limited are far advanced.
The North Tongu legislator pointed out that the sale of state properties to government officials constitutes an abuse of power and should not be allowed to happen.
He added, “The six SSNIT hotels being sold are: Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, Busua Beach Resort, and Trust Lodge Hotel.”
Ablakwa disclosed that he had petitioned the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate and stop the minister from acquiring the hotels.
He said the minister’s actions do not only constitute an abuse of power but also point to a lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, graft, and a violation of the Constitution of Ghana.
SSNIT has also stated it is selling 60% shares of the six hotels to Bryan Acheampong’s company because they presented the best offer.
It also stated the shares of the hotels were advertised for every interested person to make a bid.
Watch Nana Akomea's remarks in the video below:
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