SSNIT hotels sale: I will submit myself to prosecution if corruption is established - Board Chair

Elizabeth Ohene, the Board Chair of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), has publicly defended the state pensions outfit's decision to divest a 60 percent stake in some hotels.

She stressed in an op-ed published in the state-owned Daily Graphic that she will assume full responsibility and face prosecution if any corruption is established in the process.

In a piece she titled “Coming out of the hotels”, Elizabeth Ohene addressed the controversy surrounding the sale of shares to Rock City Limited, owned by Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.

She expressed her bewilderment at the allegations of secrecy and government involvement in the divestiture process, emphasizing that the decision to seek a strategic investor was made transparently and without the need for governmental permission.

Ohene highlighted that the SSNIT Board's actions have always been guided by the principle that pension funds are sacred and that every decision could be scrutinized by the public eye.

She assured that the selection of Rock City as the preferred bidder was a clean process, adhering to all rules and regulations.

The Board Chair also addressed the political undertones the issue has taken on, given that it is an election year and the owner of Rock City is a Minister of State.

She clarified that the discussions should focus on whether SSNIT is permitted to find private sector investment for its hotels, rather than on the political affiliations of the bidder.

Ohene's stance comes amidst a campaign led by the Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, who has accused the SSNIT Board and management of various wrongdoings, including abuse of power and lack of transparency.

In response, Ohene has called for all of God's Angels and Ghana's investigative agencies to examine the process and verify its integrity.

In her capacity as Board Chair for SSNIT, Elizabeth Ohene emphasised her commitment to own up and face prosecution should any such investigation establish evidence of corruption in the process.

“Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa claims to have God and Ghana on the side of his campaign, and I would hope all of God’s Angels and Ghana’s investigative agencies, temporal and spiritual, would examine the process and tell the world if they find any irregularity or trace of corrupt practice. Indeed, if they should find any evidence of corruption, I will assume and accept responsibility and expect to be prosecuted,” she wrote.

GA/SARA

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