President Akufo-Addo has described as needless, the controversy that greeted the decision to cede some interest in hotels owned by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to his Minister for Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong’s Rock City Hotels.
North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in partnership with organised labour staged a protest culminating in a nationwide industrial action over what they saw as a distress sale of the hotels, including a profitable one, to a government appointee.
Organised labour subsequently revealed plans to reform its representatives on the SSNIT board.
However commenting on the matter at the 12th Quadrennial Delegates Congress of the Trades Union Congress, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the controversy was unnecessary.
Contrary to arguments that SSNIT is not being managed properly, the president pointed to a profit of over GHȼ230 million made by SSNIT which he believes is indicative of the gains being made by the state agency.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the strong financial performance posted by SSNIT in its 2023 financial report should put to rest agitations over the trust's decision to sell off some non-performing assets.
SSNIT had to abandon its decision to sell off a major stake in some four hotels after the protests by organised labour.
President Akufo-Addo however, wants the nation to be measured in comments that he says can affect the long-term interest of SSNIT, and called on organised labour to engage more with the government on their concerns instead of resorting to strikes.
