Naa Ayele Ardayfio Sekyere, Senior Officer in Charge of Public Relations and Campaign of Trades Union Congress (TUC), has revealed that the union has been engaging with North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in exposing the sale of SSNIT’s stake in four hotels.
She maintained that representatives of labour unions on the board of trustees of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) have since 2018 kicked against the sale of the Trust’s 60 percent stake in the four hotels.
Management of SSNIT responding to the allegations by Mr Ablakwa, said that the Trust is seeking to partner with a “strategic investor” to raise capital to invest in the hotels, and also assist in their management.
According to SSNIT, the primary objective of finding a strategic investor is to increase efficiency, profitability, shareholder value, and the long-term sustainability of the SSNIT Pension Scheme.
However, Madadm Ayele Ardayfio appearing on The Key Points on Saturday, May 25, underscored that there has not been a single occasion where organized labour has allowed any action that is not in the interest of workers go through the board level.
Responding to concerns that representatives of labour unions on the SSNIT board remained silent on the matter, she said, “Organised labour will not move into action until they are very certain of whatever they’re action upon…the very first statement read by the Deputy General Secretary of TUC alluded to that, that unanimously they have been saying no don’t do this.”
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“I think that we also would want to gove a lot of credence to honourable Okudzeto because he also stepped in when he realized no, because when you are doing a negotiation the normal thing is to agree, if you haven’t agreed why do then move into action.
“This is not the first time SSNIT investments have been divested… when we see that theire is no fairness in the deal…and it’s not all the investment has SSNIT divested that issues have been raised about. And yes, honourable Okudzeto, and we’ve been working with him by the way,” she told Alred Ocansey, adding, “I’m sure that if organized labour didn’t give that support to honourable Okudzeto, he would been alone.”
Mr Ablakwa has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Jusctice (CHRAJ), seeking an investigation into various allegations, including conflict of interest, abuse of power, lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, and graft.
“In my petition, I am inviting CHRAJ to investigate grave matters bothering on conflict of interest, abuse of power, lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, and graft.”
“I have also drawn attention to blatant violations of Article 78(3) and 98(2) of the 1992 Constitution as diligent checks from Parliament’s Committee on Office of Profit reveal that Hon. Bryan Acheampong has not applied and does not have the permission of the Speaker of Parliament to hold an office of profit,” he wrote on X.
