North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has raised concerns about the deliberate running down of state entities by public officials to later purchase them for personal gain.
Ablakwa emphasized the need for state assets to be managed responsibly and not as personal property during his appearance on The Key Points show on TV3.
He criticized the handling of funds by SSNIT, specifically pointing out a memo where an interim manager was set to be paid $18,000 for just six months of work at La Palm Royal Beach Resort, a company that was claimed to be unprofitable.
“And if these are your practices, why won’t you struggle financially? So, look let’s be clear, I have always said that this business of public officials deliberately running down state assets, they deliberately run them down and then they turn around to purchase them. It has to stop. It makes no sense,” Mr Ablakwa emphasized.
He further revealed a petition he submitted to CHRAJ on May 16, requesting an investigation into the sale of SSNIT’s stake in six hotels to Rock City Hotels Limited, owned by MP Bryan Acheampong.
According to Ablakwa, the documents he obtained indicated that Hon. Acheampong is the director and sole beneficial owner of Rock City Hotel Limited.
The petition also includes allegations of conflict of interest, abuse of power, lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, and graft which Ablakwa wants CHRAJ to look into.
SSNIT, in response to Ablakwa’s allegations, explained that they were seeking a strategic partner to invest in the hotels and enhance their management and profitability. They highlighted that the selection of a strategic investor was done through a competitive tendering process as per the Public Procurement Act.
However, Ablakwa dismissed SSNIT’s statement as “disingenuous” and maintained his call for a thorough investigation into the matter.
