Africa-Press – Ghana. Member of Parliament for North Tongu and petitioner in the sale of SSNIT’s stake in some four hotels, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has observed that public officials deliberately run down state entities and turn around to purchase them.
He said this phenomenon has to stop, adding that state assets should not be managed as personal property.
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He accused SSNIT of supervising frivolous expenditure, citing an intercepted memo where one Nana Kwakye who acted for only six months following the demise of the Managing Director of La Palm Royal Beach Resort, will be paid US$18,000 for the period.
“18,000 dollars I put out that memo earlier in the week. 18,000 dollars, a company that you say is not profitable. And I mean where does this happen?” he quizzed.
“And if these are your practices, why won’t you struggle financially? So, look let’s be clear, I have always said that this business of public officials deliberately running down state assets, they deliberately run them down and then they turn around to purchase them. It has to stop. It makes no sense,” Mr Ablakwa emphasized.
In a petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Thursday, May 16, the North Tongu MP wants the anti-graft body to investigate and stop the sale of the said hotels to Rock City Hotels Limited directly owned by MP for Abetifi and Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.
According to Mr Ablakwa, documents he intercepted confirmed that “SSNIT is far advanced in selling a controlling 60% stake in six of its hotels to Rock City Hotels Limited.”
“Hon. Acheampong is a director and the sole beneficial owner of Rock City Hotel Limited,” the MP wrote.
Mr Ablakwa is also seeking an investigation into various allegations, including conflict of interest, abuse of power, lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, and graft.
“In my petition, I am inviting CHRAJ to investigate grave matters bothering on conflict of interest, abuse of power, lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, and graft.”
“I have also drawn attention to blatant violations of Article 78(3) and 98(2) of the 1992 Constitution as diligent checks from Parliament’s Committee on Office of Profit reveal that Hon. Bryan Acheampong has not applied and does not have the permission of the Speaker of Parliament to hold an office of profit,” he wrote on X on May 17.
Meanwhile, management of SSNIT, in a May 19 statement responding to Mr Ablakwa’s allegations, said “The Trust is seeking to partner a strategic investor to raise capital to invest in the hotels, and also assist in their management.
“The primary objective of finding a strategic investor is to increase efficiency, profitability, shareholder value, and the long-term sustainability of the SSNIT Pension Scheme.
“Accordingly, SSNIT went through International Competitive Tendering (ICT) processes as prescribed by the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (ACT 663), as amended by ACT 914, for the selection of a strategic investor,” it said.
The North Tongu legislator however, described the statement by the management of SSNIT as “disingenuous.”
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