Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a member of parliament for North Tongu, has charged Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong with breaking the constitution and misusing his authority as a state official.
He thinks that no governmental asset can be purchased by officials of the state.
This charge follows the disclosure that Mr. Acheampong’s company, Rock City Hotel, is in the process of acquiring a 60% share in four SSNIT-owned hotels.
Mr. Ablakwa claims that this is unethical behavior in violation of Articles 78(3) and 98(2) of the 1992 Constitution, which prohibit MPs and Ministers from engaging in business for personal gain or abusing their position of authority in order to avoid conflicts of interest.
The Agriculture Minister maintains that he is not involved in the day-to-day operations of Rock City Hotel, but he is the only beneficiary owner of the business and its revenues, he claimed in an interview with PM Express on JoyNews.
What he said:
“There will be discussions at Cabinet. You have your colleague ministers and government appointees on the SSNIT board. Look, it’s untidy. This is a conflict of interest. This doesn’t happen anywhere else,” Mr Ablakwa said.
Mr. Ablakwa also noted that Rock City Hotel is only pursuing the profits, having dropped out of acquiring stakes in two underperforming hotels while maintaining interest in the profitable ones.
“It is a conflict of interest. It is an abuse of power, unethical and reprehensible, and I have always maintained this. Remember 16 years ago, I took Jake Obetsebi Lamptey to court when I discovered he was in the process of purchasing his official bungalow, my position has not changed.”
Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, Busua Beach Resort, and the Trust Lodge Hotel are among the hotels that are the subject of the petition.
In his appeal to CHRAJ, Mr. Ablakwa requests a probe into a number of charges, including cronyism, graft, lack of due process, abuse of authority, and conflicts of interest.
