The Minister of Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has spoken out against allegations linking him to the sale of six hotels owned by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to his company, Rock City Hotel.
In an interview with Joy FM, Mr. Acheampong clarified that while he owns Rock City Hotel, he is only a non-executive director and does not interfere in the day-to-day running of the business. He emphasized that there is no conflict of interest or breach of regulations in his involvement with the company.
The controversy arose when Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the MP for North Tongu, raised concerns about the sale of the SSNIT hotels to government officials, including Mr. Acheampong. Mr. Ablakwa filed a petition with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the matter and prevent the sale of the hotels.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, documents he obtained indicated that negotiations were underway to sell a majority stake in the hotels to Rock City Hotel Limited, which is owned by Mr. Acheampong. He raised issues of conflict of interest, abuse of power, lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, and graft in his petition.
Despite Mr. Acheampong’s defense of his position as a non-executive director, Mr. Ablakwa has refused to withdraw his petition, stating that public officers should not use their positions to acquire state property. He emphasized that his actions are based on principles, not personal vendettas.
The allegations and counterclaims have stirred a debate on ethics and accountability in public office, with Mr. Acheampong and Mr. Ablakwa standing firm on their respective positions. The outcome of the CHRAJ investigation and the resolution of the matter will be closely watched by the public and stakeholders in the governance and accountability spheres.
