The Ghana Federation of Labour has alleged that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is continuing negotiations to sell its stake in four hotels to Rock City Hotel, owned by Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong, despite an ongoing petition before the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
This development comes shortly after a protest led by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and representatives of organized labour, urging the government to halt the transaction.
Abraham Koomson, Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, expressed his dismay to Accra-based television, Joy over SSNIT’s persistence in the sale.
“They have not stopped it. You know how things work in this country. For CHRAJ, how soon will they finish this? CHRAJ cannot injunct the process; I don’t think they have that authority. They will still go ahead and do what they want to do,” Koomson remarked.
In response to the ongoing situation, the Federation has announced its intention to boycott a meeting requested by the President next week. Koomson stated, “We are going to meet and discuss what? What we are saying is that they should stop the process. They should not continue. That is all. We are going to meet him so he tells us what? I will not be part of it. I won’t go there. I won’t go. I don’t know what I am going there to discuss. It is as simple as telling the employment minister to make sure this whole process is stopped.”
The controversy began in May when MP Ablakwa revealed details of the deal, questioning why SSNIT would sell 60% of its stake in the hotels to a minister of state. While some government officials and Ghanaians have defended Mr. Acheampong, citing his potential to improve the financial performance of the hotels, Ablakwa remains skeptical. He argues there is no evidence to suggest that Mr. Acheampong can enhance the already profitable state-owned hotels.
Ablakwa also criticized Mr. Acheampong for not using his purported expertise for national benefit while serving as a cabinet minister. “If you have such great ideas to transform hotels, Bryan Acheampong sits in Cabinet. Why do we send people to Cabinet? Under the constitution, Cabinet is a place where you brainstorm and bring your expertise and know-how to bear. So why will you only bring your expertise to bear when it is your private property, when you have bought it, when you have annexed it and it is within your private domain?” Ablakwa questioned.
He continued, “is that the only time you will bring that expertise to bear? Is that not unpatriotic? Is that not callousness? That is not being nationalistic. Why then are we paying you as a cabinet minister? It means we shouldn’t pay you, you shouldn’t be in Cabinet. This is the height of wickedness.”
