The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has responded to a petition filed by North Tongue MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, seeking an investigation into the sale of six SSNIT-owned hotels to Rock City Hotels, owned by Bryan Acheampong.
Mr. Ablakwa had disclosed that he had in his possession documents that prove that SSNIT has taken a decision to sell a majority stake in six of its hotels to the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
He is also asking CHRAJ to stop the sale of the hotels to the Abetifi MP.
In his petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the MP alleges that the sale of SSNIT’s shares in the hotels lacks due process and violates procurement procedures.
However, a statement issued by the management of SSNIT refuted any wrongdoing.
Contrary to claims by the MP that the sale of SSNIT’s shares in the hotels lacks due process and violates procurement procedures, the management explained the process was done in accordance with International Competitive Tendering (ICT) processes as prescribed by the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (ACT 663), as amended by ACT 914, for the selection of a strategic investor.
SSNIT noted that it went through the process of finding a strategic investor with the primary objective of increasing efficiency, profitability, shareholder value, and the long-term sustainability of the SSNIT Pension Scheme.
According to management, SSNIT, with the help of a transaction advisor through the ICT method of procurement, published the process in the dailies in 2018 and in another international magazine, The Economist, in its January 5–11, 2019 edition.
It disclosed that 15 firms submitted their bids by the end of the deadline in January 2019, out of which six were selected and issued with Request for Proposal (RFP) documents.
The statement continued: “Following the selection of the independent Transaction Advisor to guide the selection of a Strategic investor amongst others, further advertisements for an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a Strategic Partner for the SSNIT Hotels were placed in the Daily Graphic on 3rd February, 2022 and in the Ghanaian Times on 7th February, 2022. The advertisement was also published in The Economist Magazine on 26th February, 2022.
A total of nine (9) companies responded to the advertisements by submitting proposals on the 23rd March, 2022 deadline. Six (6) out of the nine (9) were then shortlisted and issued with Request for Proposal (RFP) documents.
The qualifying firms were invited for the opening of their financial proposals. Based on the technical and financial evaluation, the Rock City Hotel emerged the best.
Based on the criteria set out in the RFP, Rock City Hotel submitted the best and strongest technical and financial proposal amongst those received.”
Consequently, it is in negotiation with SSNIT to buy a 60% stake in each of the four (4) hotels (Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel and Elmina Beach Resort),” it added.
SSNIT further indicated that “Bids for Busua Beach Resort and the Trust Lodge were considered to be unsuccessful so they are no longer part of the hotels covered in this process.
The process of getting a strategic investor is in its final stages and therefore not yet concluded.”
Read the full statement below
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
