President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has responded to Organized Labour's petition for the controversial sale of state-owned hotels by the national pensions body.

The president's reaction was confirmed by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) boss, Dr Yaw Baah, who told to the media that the president had in his response referred their concerns to the Labour Minister.

“We wrote to the president that we needed to engage him on this [sale of the SSNIT hotels]. He has referred it to the [Employment and Labour Relations] Minister to start the engagement with us.

"We are hoping that these engagements will help all of us to find a solution to what we think is a problem.

“We are going to meet with the SSNIT Board. Organized labour leaders are going to meet with the SSNIT Board and also with the Employment and Labour Relations Minister who is also in charge of pensions,” Dr Baah added.

The TUC boss did not disclose when the sector minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, is scheduled to engage in discussions with labour leaders.

Ablakwa's fight against sale of four state-run hotels

North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has provided more evidence to back his position that the pending sale of some government assets to a minister of state was unjustified.

The said sale is in connection with plans by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) which is seeking to divest its interests in four state-owned hotels to Rock City Hotels Limited, a company owned by agric minister, Bryan Acheampaong.

In his latest publication on the matter, Ablakwa published financial and management statements of Labadi Beach Hotel covering a decade pointing out the high turnover and profits that the hotel had achieved.

Labadi Beach Hotel is one of the four hotels in which SSNIT is seeking to offload the state's majority shares. The others are La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel and Elmina Beach Resort.

Meanwhile, the minister in question has denied that there was anything irregular with the purchase agreement that has yet to be finalized.

He admits being a director of the company but explains that he is not involved in the day-to-day administration of Rock City.

Ablakwa, who first brought the sale to public attention, has also petitioned the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to probe the sale of the hotels to the Agriculture Minister.

He has also planned a June 18 protest against the deal.

TWI NEWS