National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has promised to sponsor a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament in a bid to prevent politicians and politically exposed persons from purchasing state assets.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 21, the legislator was hopeful that the bill when passed would address the gaps in the current legal regime which is being exploited by political actors.
According to him, enacting an effective legislation would ensure compliance by public officeholders.
“In the coming days, I shall be sponsoring a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament to expressly prevent politicians and politically exposed persons from participating directly or indirectly in the purchase of state assets. The objective will be to legally block all loopholes in the current legal regime, which some politicians appear to be exploiting.
“After 16 years of crusading against politicians purchasing state assets under conflict of interest, opaque, abuse of power and unethical circumstances; I believe it is time to have a strong piece of legislation with deterrent sanctions to end the canker,” his post read.
Background
The young NDC legislator is in the news currently after lodging a formal petition with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Social Security and National Insurance Trust’s intended sale of its 60% per cent stake in six hotels to Rock City Hotels Limited owned by a Member of Parliament and Minister of State, Bryan Acheampong.
The hotels under scrutiny in the petition include the Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, Busua Beach Resort, and the Trust Lodge Hotel.
Mr Ablakwa’s petition to CHRAJ seeks an investigation into various allegations, including conflict of interest, abuse of power, lack of due process, procurement breaches, cronyism, and graft.
SSNIT Response
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) in response denied any foul play in the transaction.
It insisted that the process in selecting a buyer was transparent and strictly adhered to the Public Procurement Act to select Rock City Hotel, among five other hotels that applied.
In a statement, SSNIT explained that Rock City Hotel Limited submitted the best and strongest technical and financial proposal among the bids received, meeting the criteria set out in the Request for Proposals (RFP).
SSNIT assured the public it will cooperate fully with CHRAJ throughout its investigation process.
Byran Acheampong reacts
Mr Acheampong on Tuesday said the allegations peddled by Mr Ablakwa suggesting that he’s committing any wrongdoing in Rock City’s proposal to purchase 60% of shares in SSNIT’s four hotels are false and baseless.
Speaking on JoyFM’s Super Morning Show, the Abetifi MP expressed his disappointment in the stance taken by his colleague.
“You are just adding things together and trying to destroy me and trying to destroy Rock City. It is most unfair, it is ‘un-Ghanaian’ and you should stop it,” he told Mr Ablakwa who was also on the Super Morning Show.
The next step
But, Mr Ablakwa is not relenting. He told Evans Mensah, Host of News Night on Joy FM that he will petition to the Speaker of Parliament to address the issue.
“I have obtained the full list of 47 ministers and MPs diligently and I know for a fact that indeed, Bryan Acheampong confirmed this morning that he has not complied with the provisions of the Constitution. So I certainly will bring this to the attention of the Speaker as soon as the house resumes.”
Source: myjoyonline.com
