Africa-Press – Ghana. The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu has described the National Pensions Regulatory Authority as a toothless bulldog.
A toothless bulldog is one that can bark but cannot bite.
This description of the body mandated to regulate pensions in the country was necessitated by the role played by the NPRA in the impasse that has resulted from a decision by the Management of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to sell 60% shares of four of its hotels.
The hotels are; Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, and Labadi Beach Hotel.
However, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okdzeto Ablakwa discovered that the hotels were to be bought by Rock City Hotel Limited, owned by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong. A situation he found to amount to conflict of interest.
Mr Ablakwa therefore petitioned the Commission of Human Rights and administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the NPRA among other stakeholders to help halt the transaction.
Subsequently, the NPRA ordered the suspension of the transaction pending its perusal of the processes undertaken so far.
Barely two weeks later, the NPRA has given the greenlight to SSNIT to proceed with the sale of the shares. This was announced by the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffuor Awuah in Parliament on July 11.
“So, it wasn’t like a direct something that SSNIT should not go ahead to do anything, but then, SSNIT can only go ahead when NPRA, which is the regulator within the field, had actually certified that they have seen all the documentation and the processes, and they think that we are good to go.
“Yes, so, as a minister, I can tell you on authority that NPRA has since indicated that they have seen the processes, and they think that SSNIT can go ahead.”
This did not go down well with organized labour made up of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and NAGRAT among others.
Speaking in an interview, July 12, Mr Carbonu said “The NPRA is a toothless bulldog. The NPRA is supposed to have brought SSNIT’s operations under control and check how SSNIT operates. But the behaviour being exhibited shows that SSNIT is stronger than NPRA. We are calling on SSNIT to suspend the sale of the hotels.
Reacting to the news that Management of Rock City hotel has withdrawn its bid to buy the hotel, he said “we have nothing to do with Rock City. Rock City is not selling. Rock City is buying. We want SSNIT to stop the process of sale.”
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