Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has served notice to the Ghana Police Service of a demonstration scheduled for June 18, 2024, against the ongoing sale of SSNIT’s stake in some four hotels to Bryan Acheampong, Minister for Food and Agriculture and MP for Abetifi.
The North Tongu lawmaker said he has received “positive feedback” from the Greater Accra Regional Police Command.
“I have served the Ghana Police Service with a notice of demonstration because latest documents I have intercepted reveal that they’re going ahead with this sale and purchase and that the petition at CHRAJ has not stopped the parties.
“Clearly they’re taking advantage of the lacuna in the CHRAJ law which does not give them injunction power so CHRAJ cannot injunct, it doesn’t have that power,” Mr Ablakwa said in an interview with Accra-base Joy FM on Monday, May 27.
Mr. Ablakwa also called for amendment of the CHRAJ Act, 1993 [Act 456], to grant the commission injunctive powers going forward.
In a petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on May 17, the North Tongu MP wants the anti-graft body to investigate and stop the sale of the said hotels to Rock City Hotel Limited, directly owned by Bryan Acheampong.
“This demonstration becomes absolutely crucial because of latest intercepted documents which reveal that SSNIT is proceeding with the transaction despite my CHRAJ complaint, and despite the palpable public outrage.
“The mobilisation against this terribly bad deal which cannot be in the national interest begins immediately. We shall protect our hotels for all Ghanaian workers,” the North Tongu legislator later wrote on X.
SSNIT says Rock City Hotel offered the best price
Meanwhile, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), in response to the allegations by North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said, among other things, that Rock City Hotel Limited presented the best offer for the purchase of SSNIT’s 60% stake in each of the four hotels.
“Based on the criteria set out in the RFP, Rock City Hotel submitted the best and strongest technical and financial proposal amongst those received. Consequently, it is in negotiation with SSNIT to buy a 60% stake in each of the four (4) hotels (Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel and Elmina Beach Resort),” SSNIT said in its May 19 press statement.
