Kwamena Duncan has taken a shot at the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the decision of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to divest its stake in six hotels.
SSNIT is said to sell its 60% stake in four hotels to Rock City Hotel owned by Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Food and Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Abetifi.
This move has raised concerns with members of the opposition National Democratic Congress and a section of the general public calling it conflict of interest and asking for the cancellation of the sale.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, NDC Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has questioned SSNIT's decision to partner Rock City and forwarded a petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to stop SSNIT.
"I have also drawn attention to blatant violations of Article 78(3) and 98(2) of the 1992 Constitution as diligent checks from Parliament's Committee on Office of Profit reveal that Hon. Bryan Acheampong has not applied and does not have the permission of the Speaker of Parliament to hold an office of profit," Ablakwa stated.
In the wake of this brouhaha, Organized Labour, at a press conference in Accra on Monday, has urged government to halt the process but SSNIT, in its defence, says Rock City Hotel submitted the best and strongest technical and financial proposal among all the bids it received.
Reacting to the issue during Peace FM's panel discussion show "Kokrokoo", the former Central Minister, Kwamena Duncan was particular concerned about the role of TUC on the Board of Trustees before this decision was made.
He wondered how there are four representatives of organized labour on the Board and they failed to suspend the sale of the hotels but are now expressing their sentiments to the public.
"Do they go for board meetings? Well, if they go, do they understand the issues which are discussed there? Do they go to sleep? What happens to the four representatives of organized labour?", he questioned.
To Kwamena Duncan, the organized labour reps should engage with the stakeholders to find a proper solution to the problem and not resort to their public sentiments, saying "it will not solve any problem. That one, it will continue to drain on the funds that SSNIT is managing".
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