Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to release documents pertaining to the sale of its shares in four hotels to Dr. Bryan Acheampong, the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
SSNIT is in the process of selling 60% of its shares in the Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, and Labadi Beach Hotel to Rock City Hotel, a company owned by Dr. Acheampong.
This transaction has raised concerns among stakeholders about a potential conflict of interest. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the MP for North Tongu, has even petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the deal.
In response, Afenyo-Markin has urged SSNIT to provide a comprehensive explanation to the public. He stated, “Let me make this appeal to SSNIT, SSNIT must come out, make the documents available, and speak to it. I mean, they cannot be dodgy. This is not a political matter. I cannot come and speak to it politically, condemn it, or commend it.”
Afenyo-Markin further emphasized the need for transparency, saying, “SSNIT must come out, and even not only this decision, [it must] look at all their investments that are failing and explain them to the public.”
He believes that with clear explanations, labor unions such as the Trades Union Congress (TUC) will understand the context and see beyond individual personalities involved. “I am sure that TUC and other labour unions will understand if these things are explained and they will take away Bryan Acheampong as a person and understand that, let’s not look at the form but at the substance,” he concluded.