Akufo-Addo not a listening President like Kufuor & Mills – Former NPP General Secretary

William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is not a listening President, Nana Ohene Ntow, the Special Policy Advisor to Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, has intimated.

Unlike former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Evans Atta Mills, the former General Secretary for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) avers President Akufo-Addo’s intransigence is unparalleled to any other President in the Fourth Republic.

His comments stem from calls by a section of the public for the continuation of the strike by Organised Labour pertaining to the attempted sale of some four hotels belonging to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).

Speaking on the BigIssue on NewDay Tuesday, July 16, 2024, Nana Ohene Ntow urged the public to persist with their strike actions since it appears to be the only language the government understands.

“Finally, should the strike action continue? I believe, yes, since it’s become a situation of mutual blackmail, Organised Labour also has an opportunity to squeeze government where it hurts most.

“If ordinarily government will not even listen to overwhelming public sentiments on issues, and this government in particular, almost all the governments in the past, but some governments have been more listening, I can cite President Kufuor, I can cite President Atta Mills.

“I cannot cite the current President, he is not a listening President, I have said this many times over, people have tried to defend it. Since people have their views about issues, I too, I have my views,” he told Berla Mundi on TV3.

Background

Rock City Hotel, owned by Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong was revealed few weeks ago has the sole investor which satisfied the bidding process to purchase 60% of shares in SSNIT’s four hotels.

The news about the sale of the 60% shares of the four hotels was met with resentment from all corners of the general public.

SSNIT in its defence said the process to sell 60% of its shares in the hotels begun in 2018 and was in its final stage and that Rock City Hotel had met all requirement to purchase the 60% shares.

It said the four hotels which were put up for sale were running consistent losses and SSNIT  has no funding to revive the hotels, hence, the need to put it up for sale.

When the matter came to light, North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa vehemently opposed the bid saying state officials cannot “loot and share” state assets.

He further organised a demonstration to protest against the sale of SSNIT Hotels. Various labour unions also spoke against the move which further prompted the NPRA to direct SSNIT on June 28 to suspend its negotiations with Rock City over the sale of four hotels, pending further evaluation and engagement.

However, answering questions on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, July 11, Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah confirmed that NPRA has given the go ahead for the hotels to be sold after the Authority was satisfied that SSNIT has complied with all due processes.

He said the directive from the NPRA was only to ensure that SSNIT had complied with all the processes and documentation and not to completely prevent SSNIT from selling the hotels.

“Yes, it is true that NPRA came up with a directive, but I would appreciate it if my brother, my colleague, really read the directive from NPRA. It said it needed to be furnished with all information relating to the sale of the hotels, which SSNIT has since done that.

“So, it wasn’t like a direct something that SSNIT should not go ahead to do anything, but then, SSNIT can only go ahead when NPRA, which is the regulator within the field, had actually certified that they have seen all the documentation and the processes, and they think that we are good to go.

“Yes, so, as a minister, I can tell you tell you on authority that NPRA has since indicated that they have seen the processes, and they think that SSNIT can go ahead.”

This revelation prompted several labour unions to take action by declaring a nationwide strike following which SSNIT has terminated the controversial sale of 60% of its shares in the four hotels.

Source:onuaonline.com