- Ablakwa Leads Demo Against SSNIT Hotel Sale
- Ablakwa Protests Sale of SSNIT Hotels to Bryan Acheampong
- Demo Scheduled for June 18 Against SSNIT-Rock City Deal
- Ablakwa Calls for CHRAJ Act Amendment
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has announced plans to lead a demonstration on June 18, 2024, against the sale of SSNIT’s stake in four hotels to Bryan Acheampong, the Minister for Food and Agriculture and MP for Abetifi. Ablakwa has already served notice to the Ghana Police Service, and has received “positive feedback” from the Greater Accra Regional Police Command.
The demonstration is aimed at stopping the sale of SSNIT’s 60% stake in each of the four hotels – Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, and Elmina Beach Resort – to Rock City Hotel Limited, a company owned by Bryan Acheampong. Ablakwa has been vocal in his opposition to the sale, which he believes is not in the national interest.
In an interview with Joy FM on Monday, May 27, Ablakwa revealed that he has intercepted documents showing that the sale is still ongoing, despite his petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on May 17. He expressed concern that the parties involved are taking advantage of a “lacuna” in the CHRAJ law, which does not give the commission the power to grant injunctions.
Ablakwa has therefore called for an amendment to the CHRAJ Act, 1993 [Act 456], to grant the commission injunctive powers going forward. He believes this will help prevent similar situations in the future.
In his petition to CHRAJ, Ablakwa asked the commission to investigate and stop the sale of the hotels to Rock City Hotel Limited. He argued that the sale is not in the best interest of Ghanaian workers, and that it has the potential to deprive the state of significant revenue.
Despite Ablakwa’s petition, SSNIT has maintained that the sale is still ongoing. In a press statement on May 19, SSNIT said that Rock City Hotel Limited had presented the best offer for the purchase of its 60% stake in each of the four hotels.
According to SSNIT, Rock City Hotel Limited submitted the best and strongest technical and financial proposal amongst those received. The trust is therefore in negotiation with the company to buy a 60% stake in each of the four hotels.
Ablakwa has however disputed SSNIT’s claim, saying that the sale is not transparent and does not serve the national interest. He has vowed to continue fighting against the sale, and has called on Ghanaians to join him in the demonstration on June 18.
The demonstration is seen as a crucial moment in the campaign against the sale of the hotels. Ablakwa believes that it will show the strength of public opinion against the deal, and will help to protect the interests of Ghanaian workers.
In a post on social media, Ablakwa wrote: “This demonstration becomes absolutely crucial because of latest intercepted documents which reveal that SSNIT is proceeding with the transaction despite my CHRAJ complaint, and despite the palpable public outrage. The mobilisation against this terribly bad deal which cannot be in the national interest begins immediately. We shall protect our hotels for all Ghanaian workers.”
