Africa-Press – Ghana. Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, also called Kwaku Azar, a legal luminary, has partnered with North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and a group of lawyers to introduce a private member’s bill to Parliament that will bar public officials from purchasing government assets.
Mr Ablakwa following the interception of documents on the sale of four hotels belonging to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), filed a petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the deal.
SSNIT is selling its 60 percent stake in the four hotels to Rock City Hotels Limited, a company owned by NPP MP for Abetifi and Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Accheampong.
Management of SSNIT, responding to the allegations by Mr Ablakwa said that the Trust is seeking to partner with a “strategic investor” to raise capital to invest in the hotels, and also assist in their management.
According to SSNIT, 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.
Even before CHRAJ concluded its investigations into the deal, Mr Ablakwa indicated that he would introduce a private member’s bill in Parliament against the sale of government assets to public officials.
Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM on Monday, May 27, Mr Ablakwa revealed that, “Professor Kwaku Azar has responded positively to request to lead a team of lawyers that I’m putting together to have a private member’s bill on this matter of politicians participating in the sale and purchase of state assets.”
“I want us to end it once and for all,” he emphasised.
Furthermore, Mr Ablakwa appearing on political analysis programme The Key Points on Saturday, May 25, argued that public officials “deliberately run down state assets and turn around to purchase them.”
“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.
Sale of SSNIT’s stake in hotels: Bryan Acheampong’s assertion that he is non-executive director is neither here nor there – Kpebu
“We are told that these assets have been run down, they are not worth a while, they are not profitable, they are a drain on SSNIT, and yet when it is put for sale, the public officials who told us that it’s not worth it, it’s a drain, they are the ones racing for it, rushing for it. Does that make sense? Is it logical?” he argued.
Source: 3News
For More News And Analysis About Ghana Follow Africa-Press
