Dr Yaw Baah
Organised Labour in Ghana has announced a decisive move to launch an industrial strike on Monday, July 15, in protest against the controversial sale of a 60% stake in four hotels owned by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to Rock City Hotel, which is linked to Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong.
The decision to escalate their resistance through industrial action was reached during a leadership meeting held on Friday, July 12, 2024. This decision follows the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) surprising approval of the transaction, overturning its earlier directive to suspend negotiations with Rock City Hotel for the hotel sale.
Pensions Minister Ignatius Baffour Awuah revealed the NPRA’s endorsement of the deal on Thursday, July 11, 2024 stating, “NPRA has since indicated that they have seen the processes and they think that SSNIT can go ahead” with the sale, signaling a significant shift in the regulatory stance.
In response to this sudden turn of events, Dr. Yaw Baah, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress, condemned the transaction as “flawed” and not in the national interest. Dr. Baah called on all workers across the country to join the industrial strike starting on Monday, July 15, 2024 urging them to stay away from work until SSNIT officially terminates the sale process.
“We find it extremely difficult to understand how and why NPRA will turn around to approve such a flawed deal…and so we will like to reiterate that the sale of SSNIT shares in the four hotels is not in the best interest of the country,” Dr. Baah emphasized.
By Vincent Kubi