Direct SSNIT to cancel the sale of 60% of its stake in hotels – TUC to Minister of Employment
The Trade Union Congress (TUC), has called on Minister for Employment and Labour relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, to direct the board of trustees of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to cancel the process of selling its 60 percent stake in its investments in hotels.
This comes after Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that SSNIT’s stake in six different hotels are being sold to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong’s Rock City Hotel.
In reaction to this at a press conference on Monday, May 20, 2024, the union threatened an action against government if they continue with the process to sell SSNIT’s stake in the hotels.
Secretary General of the TUC, Dr. Yaw Baah Baah emphasized that in spite that the SSNIT board was asked to halt the process, they refused.
“We hold the view that the process was flawed. Our representatives on SSNIT board were very clear in their demand that for a number o reasons, the process be halted but from all indications, it appears the process is going on and in fact they are even speeding it up and we don’t think that is right.
“We do not think that the regulations that guide the sale of state assets were followed. We do not think that the necessary due diligence was done. We cannot imagine that state properties will be sold to a minister of state. For us is smacks of state capture and that should be stopped and stopped immediately, he said.
Dr. Baah further issued a stern warning that should he fail to stop SSNIT from the ongoing process, they will take the initiative themselves.
“If the Minister for Pensions, who is also Minister for Employment and Labour relations, fails to stop SSNIT, we workers of Ghana, we own the funds. We will stop that process. We will not allow pension funds to be toyed with and this is our last warning to those who are in charge of this country that workers of Ghana will allow our pension funds to be used anyhow especially when assets of the pension fund is going to be sold to a minster of state,” he added.
