Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, has praised the National Pensions Regulatory Authority’s (NPRA) directive to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
The directive calls for the suspension of ongoing negotiations with Rock City over the sale of four hotels, a move Ablakwa describes as an “initial victory” for Ghanaians.
Currently, SSNIT is considering Rock City Limited as the Strategic Investor for the sale of its four properties: Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Elmina Beach Resort, and Ridge Royal Hotel.
On Friday, June 28, the NPRA communicated to SSNIT that “As you may be aware, section 67 (2) of the [National Pensions] Act requires us to issue relevant guidelines to guide your investment decisions.”
“In furtherance of this requirement, you are hereby directed by the Board of the Authority to suspend all the processes seeking to engage Rock City Hotel as the Strategic Investor in a matter of the sale of the above hotels.”
In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr. Ablakwa acknowledged the significance of the development but emphasised that their ultimate goal is the cancellation of the deal.
“This development is a very significant one. I will call this an initial victory for the masses of our country. All along SSNIT has been defiant even when I petitioned CHRAJ, I intercepted documents that proved that they were going ahead full speed, neck-breaking speed to finalise this deal and that is why we had to mobilise and hit the streets and stage the ‘Hands Off Our Hotels’ demonstration last week the 18th of June.”
“I am glad that finally the resistance of the people, the voice of the people and in this matter the overwhelming majority of Ghanaians were very emphatic from organised labour, civil society organisations, the chiefs of La, the chiefs of Ga Mashie and every Ghanaian including those in academia were very very unequivocal that this deal stinks to the high heavens.
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“It did not make sense, it did not meet conflict of interest standards. This deal was not in the national interest and yet SSNIT was defiant…what we want is a cancellation of this deal,” he added.
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Meanwhile, in response to the welfare concerns of former Members of Parliament (MPs), the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, has established an eight-member ad hoc committee to explore the possibility of a pension scheme for MPs.
The formation of the committee is a direct response to suggestions from both the Minority and Majority Chief Whips.
These suggestions were made during a tribute to the late MP for Talensi, John Akologu Tia.
Andrew Asiamah Amoako, who presided over the proceedings in parliament on Friday gave the committee a two-week deadline to present their recommendations to the house.
He further indicated that “Honourable members I think this is very important for all of us. So a committee has been set up and looking at the members that have been assembled to look into it, I think we can be rest assured that they will come out with something good for us.”
“So, we thank the members and we hope that they work out expeditiously for us.”
