Ahiagbah Denies Conflict of Interest in SSNIT Hotels Bidding Process

The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Communications Director, Richard Ahiagbah, has suggested that it is mistaken to bring up conflict of interest concerns regarding the sale of a 60 percent share in four hotels, owned by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), to Rock City Hotel, which is owned by Food and Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong.

Ahiagbah argues that SSNIT’s divestment of its interests in the four hotels began in 2018, five years prior to Bryan Acheampong becoming a cabinet minister.

The NPP’s Communications Director questioned why concerns about the procurement processes were not raised in 2018 but are only now being brought up since the Abetifi lawmaker became a cabinet minister.

“The question of conflict of interest for me does not arise because the process to offload SSNIT’s interests in these hotels started in 2018, 5 years before Hon. Bryan Acheampong became the Minister for Food and Agriculture. Again, the question must be asked: Had SSNIT terminated the procurement process to divest its shares to Rock City between 2019 and 2023 before Bryan Acheampong became a minister, would there have been any concerns or issues of conflict of interest?

“If there would not have been a conflict of interest concerns had Rock City bought SSNIT’s share before Bryan Acheampong became a minister, why is it a concern now?”

Ahiagbah also criticized the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on his X handle for organizing the ‘Hands off our Hotels’ demonstration to pressure President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo into stopping the transaction.

“He insists the demonstration lacks evidence to the effect that Rock City did not win the bid competitively or that other bidders submitted superior bids compared to Rock City.”

“I am open to joining any demonstration that provides concrete evidence that the bidding process, initiated in 2018 before Bryan Acheampong assumed his ministerial role, was biased in favour of Rock City. Or a demonstration that proves that Rock City did not win the bid competitively or that other bidders submitted superior bids compared to Rock City.”

The SSNIT Hotel Transaction, a potential threat to the independence of a state institution, is a matter of grave concern…

The right for citizens to demonstrate is a core democratic right. However, I expected Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa to have waited for the conclusion of the…

— Richard Ahiagbah (@RAahiagbah) June 18, 2024