SSNIT hotels for sale: Public officials purchasing state assets amount to conflict of interest – Ablakwa

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has dismissed claims of a personal vendetta against the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, for purchasing SSNIT’s 60 percent stake in some six hotels.

The North Tongu MP insisted that his petition is in line with his long-held view that public officials should not be interested in buying state assets because public officials are privy to insider information.

“I want to raise a fundamental objection I have and I have held this view for many years. I take the view that public officials particularly ministers, MPs, CEOs, MMDCEs, etc. I take the view that it is not acceptable, it is totally wrong and tantamount to conflict of interest to engage in the purchase of state assets, no matter how they’re presented.

Moreover, he added that his action stems from the “principled position that if you’re in government you have enormous influence, you have access to insider information and all of that. It does not serve the public good and we should not encourage public officials to keep an eye on state assets and try to annex them for themselves.”

“Sixteen years a ago this is the position I took when I had information that the [late] honourable Jake Obetsebi Lamptey was purchasing his official bungalow, I dragged him to court, this matter travelled all the way to the Supreme Court, and sixteen years on, I still take that view so it is not a personal vendetta against the honourable Bryan Acheampong,” Mr Ablakwa said in an interview on Accra-based Joy FM on Tuesday, May 21.

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In a petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Ablakwa wants CHRAJ to investigate and stop the sale of six hotels belonging to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to the minister of state.

The six SSNIT hotels being sold are Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, Busua Beach Resort, and Trust Lodge Hotel.

However, SSNIT in response to Mr. Ablakwa’s petition, explained that the Trust is seeking to partner with a strategic investor to raise capital for the hotels.

It said that the primary objective of finding a strategic investor is to increase efficiency, profitability, shareholder value, and the long-term sustainability of the SSNIT
Pension Scheme.

Meanwhile, CHRAJ has officially acknowledged Mr Ablakwa’s petition, indicating that they’ll revert in due course.

“I write in acknowledgement of your complaint brought before the Commission dated 16th May 2024 and to respectfully inform you that the Commission will revert to you in due course,” CHRAJ wrote in a letter addressed to Mr Ablakwa.

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