The Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Abraham Koomson, has strongly condemned the plan to sell a 60% stake in four hotels owned by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to Rock City Hotel, a venture owned by the Food and Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong.
Mr Koomson expressed his concerns during an appearance on Joy FM’s Newsfile, suggesting an alternative approach to the sale.
He argued that instead of selling these valuable state assets to Acheampong, the government should consider appointing him to manage the hotels if he is deemed capable.
“Why do you sell national assets? Why should we sell such hotels in these prime areas? For what? For how much?” he questioned passionately.
He proposed, “If Bryan Acheampong has the capacity to run and operate the SSNIT hotels, why don’t we employ him? Instead of selling the hotels to him, he should be appointed as CEO to run the hotels for us.”
Emphasizing the financial stability of SSNIT, Koomson pointed out that the institution receives a steady flow of contributions and does not face capital shortages.
“SSNIT can’t complain about money because every month they need not go anywhere to go and look for a loan or whatever, the inflow from the contributions just comes in. If you are an employer and you default payment, you’d be in trouble. So SSNIT cannot complain of capital,” he argued.
Koomson also highlighted that SSNIT is funded by workers’ contributions and not by the government. He called for amendments to the National Pensions Act to protect workers’ assets.
In a previous interview with Joy News, Mr Koomson accused the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of neglecting their members’ interests and vowed not to join them in meetings with President Akufo-Addo to discuss this and other labour concerns.
“I will not join them to meet the President because I suspect them,” he said on PM Express.
Despite SSNIT’s denial of any wrongdoing, the TUC has insisted that the sale must be cancelled to allow for broader consultations.
In May, North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa raised alarms about the deal, questioning the rationale behind SSNIT’s decision to sell a majority stake in the hotels to a sitting minister. Ablakwa has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the transaction and has led protests against the sale, attracting various stakeholders and petitioning the presidency to intervene.
The hotels in question include Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Beach Hotel, Royal Ridge Hotel, and Busua Beach Hotel. Despite the controversy and opposition, the Ghana Federation of Labour alleges that SSNIT is proceeding with negotiations to sell its stake in these hotels to Rock City Hotel, owned by Minister Bryan Acheampong.