Ablakwa to drag Bryan Acheampong to parliament over purchase of SSNIT hotels
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has indicated that he will petition the Speaker of Parliament over the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) decision to sell 60% of its stake in hotels to Abetifi MP Bryan Acheampong.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the Abetifi MP who doubles as Minister for Food and Agriculture violated sections of the constitution by failing to seek permission from the Speaker’s office in his attempt to purchase SSNIT’s shares in four hotels.
The North Tongu MP expressed confidence that the Speaker will act appropriately to halt the sale.
“I intend to bring this development to the attention of the Speaker, that a Member of Parliament and a Minister of State has violated Article 78 and Article 98 of the Constitution. Its authority has been undermined. And it is because of developments like this, where there will be a conflict of interest, the constitutional provision is very clear, because in that process you must prove that the business transaction you are going to engage in will not lead to a conflict of interest.
“Bryan Acheampong also violently violated those constitutional provisions. So I am going to bring this to the attention of the Speaker, and I hope that the Speaker will crack the whip in this matter,” Mr Ablakwa said on Citi News.
In his petition, Mr Ablakwa contends that documents in his possession indicate that SSNIT is on the verge of selling a majority 60% stake in six of its hotels to Rock City Hotel Limited, a company reportedly owned by Bryan Acheampong, the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
The hotels under scrutiny in the petition include Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, Busua Beach Resort, and the Trust Lodge Hotel.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the sale of SSNIT’s shares in the hotels lacks due process and violates procurement procedures.
He is therefore asking CHRAJ to stop the sale of the hotels to the Abetifi MP.
However, SSNIT, in response, explained that based on its criteria set out for the sale, Rock City Hotel Limited submitted the best and strongest technical and financial proposal among the bids received.
SSNIT further clarified that the bids were successful for only four hotels, not the entire six, as the North Tongu MP claimed.