Nana Osei Asibey Socatoa, Chairman of the NPP UK’s Swindon Chapter, has stated unequivocally that there is nothing wrong with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) selling the majority of its shares in four hotels to Rock City Hotels, which is owned by Minister for Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong.
He argued that so far as the business cum politician met all the criteria for the bidding processes, there is nothing wrong to lament about.
SSNIT has stated it is selling 60% of the shares of the four hotels to Bryan Acheampong’s company because they presented the best offer.
It clarified that Rock City Hotels submitted the best technical and financial proposal out of the six companies that were shortlisted from the companies that expressed interest in the bid.
According to SSNIT, it intends to partner with a strategic investor to raise capital to invest in its hotels and also assist in their management.
SSNIT’s response was released after North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate and stop the sale of six hotels, including Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, Busua Beach Resort, and the Trust Lodge Hotel, to the Abetifi MP.
He is asking CHRAJ to investigate a possible case of conflict of interest, abuse of power, lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, and graft.
But Chairman Socatoa, speaking on Rainbow Radio 92.4 FM in the United Kingdom with host Daniel Dadson, said there is nothing wrong with the bidding process.
He said the process has been transparent, credible, legal, and started in 2018.
The politician told the host that so long as a bid was opened and firms expressed their interest, and Rock City Hotels qualified, we should allow him to be.
“It is true that Bryan Acheampobg is a minister. It is true that he is a cabinet minister. But there is nothing wrong if he has won the bid to be given the shares from the SSNIIT hotels. He is a Ghanaian businessman and has won bids out of several other borders, so we don’t have to drag this issue out.
However, I support the decision to petition CHRAJ on the matter. It is important for CHRAJ to investigate the matter and determine if anything wrong was done. So let us wait for CHRAJ to complete its investigation,” he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
