Communications team member of the ruling new Patriotic Party (NPP), Saaka Salia has accused Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa of being envious of Minister for Food and Agriculture and the owner of Rock City Hotel, Bryan Acheampong .
This comes after the North Tongu MP took to social media to announce the Minister’s negotiations with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) since 2018 regarding the sale of a 60% stake in four SSNIT-owned hotels i.e Labadi Beach Hotel, LA Palm Royal Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, and Elmina Beach Resort.
During an engagement with Berla Mundi on TV3’s new day show on May 22, 2024, the NPP communicator noted that, a sale of shares of a company does not indicate a sale of the company itself.
There is nothing wrong with SSNIT resoling to sell some of its shares to a Ghanaian to make the best out of its opearations hence Ablakwa’s rants and decision to sponsor a bill against government officals procurement of state assest is out of sheer envy and dirty politics.
“This is envy, envy people are envious of Bryan Acheampong If not for envy and dirty politics. I’m telling you, Okudzeto cannot have any other reason. Envious to the extent that they think that this guy let’s bring him down.
Two reasons the thing is envious; he thinks that let’s bring Bryan Acheampong to our level. And the second one is dirty politics. Why would you go and politics” he said
On his part, the decision to sale this shares was a sole decision by SSNIT and not the government.
“You see when you offload shares, it is the shares that you have sold not the company. Currently as we speak, Ghana government has 30% stake.. But you see I can understand people just want the government to look bad, but this is SSNIT, it is SSNIT that is making a decision itself, and the decision says that we want international companies all over the world to bid for this, we want SSNIT hotels that are doing well in a way and those that aren’t doing well we want them to do better.
So we want a strategic partner that is a Ghanaian” he added.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, he announced via a Facebook post his intention to sponsor a private member’s bill in Parliament.
The bill seeks to prevent politicians and politically exposed individuals from purchasing state assets by closing all loopholes in the current legal framework.
Ablakwa’s initiatives also include a petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), requesting an investigation into the sale and urging CHRAJ to halt the transaction.
He cited concerns about a lack of due process and breaches of procurement procedures.
I have watched this guy on TV 3 and it’s like, NPP has a long way to go.Relying on such people would make them permanent opposition Party.