Isaac Bampoe Addo, Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) and Chairman of The Forum, announced that Organised Labour has successfully pressured the Board of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to halt plans to divest 60% of its shares in four hotels.
Following a crucial meeting with the SSNIT Board, chaired by veteran journalist Madam Elizabeth Ohene, Bampoe Addo reported that Organised Labour’s leadership strongly urged the Board to cancel the deal, which would have transferred ownership to Rock City Hotel, owned by Minister for Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong.
In an interview on Thursday, May 30, Bampoe Addo highlighted the importance of labour’s intervention, emphasizing that SSNIT’s operations are funded by workers’ contributions. He stressed that Organised Labour is committed to ensuring that SSNIT decisions reflect the best interests of its contributors.
“We were not convinced. There are so many negatives in the transaction that we have pointed out to them. How can you go through a tender process, give specifications, and then change those specifications along the line? Our Procurement Act does not allow this. We have told them to cancel the deal,” Bampoe Addo stated.
“We will take control; this is our money. SSNIT does not need to go ahead with the deal. They dare not proceed with the deal, and we have demanded a total restructuring of SSNIT,” he emphasized.
The proposed transaction faced strong opposition from various groups and individuals, including the Trades Union Congress, after it was revealed that Rock City Hotel had secured a bid to acquire a 60% stake in the four hotels.
The backlash intensified following a formal petition by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, urging the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the allegations surrounding the sale.
