Sale of SSNIT hotels should be of national concern –Opare Addo

George Opare Addo, the National Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed strong opposition to the proposed sale of SSNIT hotels, calling all Ghanaians to grasp the gravity of the situation, which directly affects their investments.

Speaking strongly against the issue, Addo emphasized the communal stake that all SSNIT contributors had in the organization.

“I am a shareholder of SSNIT, you are a shareholder of SSNIT; anyone who contributes to SSNIT is a shareholder. You should be worried about how your investment is going,” he stated.

Addo underscored the urgency of the situation by citing a 2024 ILO research that shows SSNIT resources are dwindling and may be insufficient to pay pensions in the next 10 to 15 years.

According to the youth organizer, the planned sale of SSNIT hotels lacks transparency and explanation.

He contends that there is no data to corroborate assertions that the hotels are operating at a loss, rendering the sale unnecessary. Addo also challenged the bidding process, stating that Bryan Acheampong was not awarded the tender on merit.

“It’s not because it’s Bryan; it’s because we feel that things are not being done right. If Bryan had won this tender purely based on merit and it was evident that the hotel was making losses, then we wouldn’t have a problem,” he explained.

“This demonstration is not just against Bryan Acheampong only; Freddy Blay and his children are a part of it, those that bought Labadi Beach Hotel, and the beach close to it, they are all part of it,” he said.

This comes after court documents obtained by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, reveal that top politically exposed members of the ruling NPP have long planned a grand state capture scheme to completely take over SSNIT’s hotels, particularly the highly profitable Labadi Beach Hotel.