The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, clarified that his criticisms of Bryan Acheampong, owner of Rock City Hotel and Minister of Agriculture, are not personal.
Ablakwa’s concerns arose from the controversial sale of Social Security and National Insurance Trust’s (SSNIT) 60% shares in four hotels to Rock City Hotel.
His opposition led to the disclosure of transaction details and prompted SSNIT to halt the sale amid threats of a strike by Organised Labour.
Following Rock City Hotel’s withdrawal from the bid, Organised Labour canceled their planned strike. In an interview on Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV, Ablakwa reiterated his longstanding opposition to what he termed “state capture.”
He criticized the practice of selling state assets to individuals, asserting that it often fails to benefit the country and brings no tangible advantages.
“Why would anybody make this just about Hon Bryan Acheampong? That it is probably something personal or I have some personal hatred for him. He has been saying it, this is not about hatred, it’s not about singling out one person. I have been consistent, and I have always opposed this state capture, this sale of state assets.
“And if you look at the history since 24th February 1966, virtually all the regimes have been engaged in these sales. What has come out of it? We have seen a pattern where public officials deliberately run down state assets and then turn around to buy them. If these hotels are not good for all of us, why should they be good for you? Why should they be good for one person?”
“If Hon Bryan Acheampong is such a great hotelier, hotelier extraordinaire, the best the world has ever known and has all the acumen, the expertise to turn hotels around. Why can’t he bring it to bear now that he’s in cabinet, and his government is in power?
“He has all the influence. He will only bring that expertise to bear when the hotel becomes his. When he has controlling shares, 60%.”