Ablakwa leads “Hands Off Our Hotels” demo and asks President Akufo-Addo to prevent sale of SSNIT hotels
Some protesters on Tuesday gathered at the frontage of the Labadi beach hotel in Accra to protest against the sale of a 60 percent stake in four hotels owned by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to Rock City Hotel, owned by Food and Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong.
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The demonstration dubbed “Hands Off Our Hotels” was led by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The MP, together with Organised Labour and other stakeholders have questioned the process that led to the selection of Rock City as the viable entity to purchase the hotels.
The hotels in question are Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, Busua Beach Resort, and Trust Lodge Hotel.
Mr Ablakwa has raised issues of conflict of interest, but Mr Bryan Acheampong has said he has done no wrong.
Mr Acheampong has, however, distanced himself from the day-to-day operations of Rock City Hotel.
He said although he owns the company, he does not involve himself in the decisions that they take.
“I wish to state that there is a difference between Bryan Acheampong and Rock City. I own the company. I am the vision bearer and that is what I have tasked them with. Occasionally, I check on the progress being made with the vision. Rock city pays contributions of about 1,000 staff to SSNIT. You can check whether my name is on that list. I am not a director. I don’t take daily decisions for the company. I am a non-executive director” he said on Accra-based Joy FM on May 21.
He therefore denied any wrongdoing. “There is no breach” Mr Acheampong said.
On the other hand, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) also denied any foul play in its decision to sell a 60% stake in its hotels to Rock City Hotel.
According to SSNIT, the strategy to partner with an investor to raise capital to invest in their hotels, and also assist in their management, started as far back as 2018 through International Competitive Tendering (ICT) processes as prescribed by the Public Procurement Act.
But Mr Ablakwa, who has also filed a petition with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for an investigation, aims to halt the sale and bring attention to what he describes as “state capture.”
The demonstration will begin at Labadi Beach Hotel and proceed to the Jubilee House, the seat of government.
Some of the demands of the protesters are for president Akufo-Addo to immediately stop the sales of the SSNIT hotels.
They added that profitable state assets should never be sold and the government should not sell workers properties without the permission and consents of worker.
The group are of the view that the Labadi beach hotel and Ridge Royal are more profitable than Rock City Hotel owned by Bryan Acheampong.
Prevent SSNIT from selling to hotels
Speaking during the protest march, the Lead convener, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa asked President Akufo-Addo to take action to prevent the sale of the hotels.
Mr Ablakwa said if the president fails to heed to the calls of the group, the demonstration will be extended to other regions of Ghana.
Mr Ablakwa stressed that “The demonstrations may continue if we don’t hear from President Akufo-Addo in the next few hours after the demonstration saying that they are backing off this transaction then we will have to continue.
“We may go to the Central Region where very iconic hotels like Ridge Royal and Elmina Resort are and then remember that Busia Lodge and Trust Lodge are under attack,” Mr Ablakwa said.
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Demonstration
The street protest started at the Labadi Beach Hotel and proceeded to the frontage of the Jubilee House, the seat of government.
The protesters held placards which read, "Blay and sons return our beach, Bryan don't be a thief, Bryan you are a bad boy, Hands of our hotels, they are stealing our future, pensioners deserve better, the SSNIT board must be dissolved among others.
They added that profitable state assets should never be sold, and the government should not sell workers properties without the permission and consents of worker.
The group are of the view that the Labadi beach hotel and Ridge Royal are more profitable than Rock City Hotel owned by Bryan Acheampong.
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“State assets should not be sold to Bryan Acheampong and all politically exposed persons. There should not be deliberate run down of state assets for politicians to benefit from them”, Mr Ablakwa demands.
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