NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia has called on the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate and halt the sale of several SSNIT hotels to Agriculture Minister Brian Acheapong.
According to Nketia, the contract between the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and Abetifi lacks transparency and fairness.
Lecture at JoyNews AM Show On Thursday, May 23, the NDC chairman called on CHRAJ to thoroughly investigate the transaction for possible conflicts of interest.
“If we are addressing the issue of people’s pensions following a situation where pensioners have been asked to come in for a haircut, the public should not be kept silent. There must be transparency.”
“Whether they followed that procedure or not, this is now the subject of an investigation by CHRAJ. How did they select Brian Acheapong’s company to process it?” he asked.
The concerns raised by Asiedu Nketia follow similar concerns raised by various individuals and civil society organisations since the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, exposed the contract.
In his petition to CHRAJ, Ablakwa alleged that SSNIT is nearing completion of the sale of 60% of its shares in Labadi Beach Hotel, LaPalm Royal Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel and Elmina Beach Resort to Rock City Hotels Limited, owned by one Brian Acheapong.
As such, he is calling for an investigation into a range of allegations including conflict of interest, abuse of power, lack of due process, procurement violations, nepotism and corruption.
Both SSNIT and Abetifi subsequently defended the deal, saying the partnership was strategic and in the best interest of all.
However, Asiedu Nketia maintains that due diligence needs to be observed.
“The third prong of the debate is whether an honourable Member of Parliament who is also a Minister of State should purchase state property.
“Were all precautions taken to ensure that the purchase of state property was fair and appropriate? That’s a different perspective,” he said.
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