Dan Kwaku Yeboah, the head of sports at Despite Media, has appealed to the Minister of Food and Agriculture and owner of Rock City Hotel, Bryan Acheampong, to withdraw from the intended purchase of stakes in some hotels owned by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).

On Okay FM, Dan Kwaku Yeboah presented a moral argument, stating that the deal reeks of impropriety and that it is inappropriate for a government member to purchase a state-owned company while in office.

Kwaku Yeboah believes that the Member of Parliament for the Abetifi constituency can thrive without adding the SSNIT hotels to his portfolio of businesses.

He highlighted the issue of conflict of interest, noting that Bryan Acheampong should avoid what he considers unnecessary drama by withdrawing from the deal.

"If possible, he should not proceed with purchasing the hotels. It's a clear conflict of interest. I have a good relationship with him and know that beyond politics, he is an accomplished businessman who doesn't need the SSNIT hotels to thrive. To preserve his name and reputation from all controversies, he should just stop.

"We can try to justify it and say whatever we want, but once it borders on conflict of interest, I would encourage him not to continue. SSNIT is a public institution managed by the government, and Bryan Acheampong is part of that government, so there's a clear conflict of interest. With or without those hotels, he would never go broke, so he should stop," he said.

Background:

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has alleged that six hotels belonging to SSNIT are being sold to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.

In a social media post on Friday, May 17, 2024, the MP revealed that documents he has obtained indicate that negotiations to sell 60% of the shares of the six SSNIT hotels to the minister's Rock City Hotel Limited are well underway.

The North Tongu legislator emphasized that the sale of state properties to government officials is an abuse of power and should be prohibited.

He stated, "The six SSNIT hotels being sold are Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, Busua Beach Resort, and Trust Lodge Hotel."

Ablakwa has petitioned the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate and halt the minister's acquisition of the hotels.

He argues that the minister's actions not only constitute an abuse of power but also suggest a lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, graft, and a violation of the Constitution of Ghana.

SSNIT has responded by saying it is rather selling 60% of the shares in four hotels to Bryan Acheampong's company because they presented the best offer and that the shares were advertised for all interested parties to bid.

EK