The Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has urged the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to release documents on the proposed sale of its shares in four hotels to the Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) Bryan Acheampong.
SSNIT is on the verge of selling a majority 60% stake in the Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, and Labadi Beach Hotel to Rock City Hotel, a company reportedly owned by MP for Abetifi Mr Acheampong.
According to SSNIT, Rock City Hotel Limited submitted the best and strongest technical and financial proposal among the bids received based on the criteria set out for the sale.
However, stakeholders have raised concerns regarding the conflict of interest in the transaction, with the North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, petitioning CHRAJ to investigate the matter.
READ ALSO: Ablakwa Petitions CHRAJ To Probe Alleged Sale Of 6 SSNIT Hotels To Bryan Acheampong
Following the development, Mr Afenyo-Markin has implored SSNIT to provide a detailed explanation of the deal to the public.
“Let me make this appeal to SSNIT. SSNIT must come out, make the documents available, and speak to it. I mean, they cannot be dodgy. This is not a political matter. I cannot come and speak to it politically, condemn it, or commend it,” he said.
“SSNIT must come out, and even not only this decision, [it must] look at all their investments that are failing and explain them to the public.
“I am sure that TUC and other labour unions will understand if these things are explained, and they will take away Bryan Acheampong as a person and understand that, let’s not look at the form but at the substance.”
Meanwhile, North Tongu MP Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed plans to lead a public protest against the sale of SSNIT hotels.
The protest, set for June 18, 2024, aims to pressure the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to speed up the investigation into the transaction.
The Ghana Police Service has also been notified of the planned protest.
Story By Sandra Adei Djanie