Thursday, 31 October

Order SSNIT to call off sale of 60% stake in hotels - Minority to Akufo-Addo

Politics
Minority caucus

The Minority in Parliament has called on President Akufo-Addo to instruct the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to halt the sale of a 60% stake in four of its hotels.

The NDC MPs emphasised that despite the private hotel owned by Ghana's Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, withdrawing from the deal, they still demand a cessation of the sale.

They are urging the government to issue a public statement informing organized labor and the general Ghanaian public that it has terminated its questionable arrangement to offload shares in the SSNIT hotels to government officials under suspicious circumstances.

In a press statement released on Friday, July 12, and signed by their leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority in Parliament asserted that the people of Ghana have clearly expressed their opposition to the dubious arrangement by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to sell the SSNIT hotels.

The statement underscored that Ghanaians are firmly against the sale and demand transparency and accountability in the management of national assets. 

The Minority urged the government to prioritise the interests of the people and refrain from such contentious transactions.

"The Minority Caucus in Parliament is urging the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to call off its intended sale of 60% shares in Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) hotels."

"It is not sufficient that Minister of Agriculture Bryan Acheampong, whose company attempted a hostile takeover of the iconic SSNIT hotels in a sweetheart deal with the government, has withdrawn its state capture bid after organised labour mounted pressure on the government to back down from the shady transaction."

"The government must issue a public statement informing organised labour and the general Ghanaian public that it has stopped its dubious arrangement to offload shares in the SSNIT hotels to a person(s) in government under very suspicious circumstances," an excerpt of the statement said.

Meanwhile, SSNIT has announced the suspension of its planned sale of a 60% stake in four of its hotels.

In a statement issued just before midnight on Friday, July 12, SSNIT's decision came shortly after Rock City Hotel, owned by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, withdrew from the transaction due to significant opposition from stakeholders.

The statement, signed by SSNIT Board Chair Elizabeth Ohene, who had previously defended the deal, confirmed that the sale process has been terminated.

SSNIT assured pensioners, contributors, and the public of its commitment to managing the Trust's affairs prudently to ensure the sustainability of the pension scheme.

Source: Classfmonline.com