Ablakwa moves to stop public officials from buying state assets
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has hinted at a move to sponsor a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament to prevent politicians and politically exposed persons from purchasing state assets.
Mr Ablakwa has indicated in a Facebook post that the move is intended to legally block all loopholes in the current legal regime that is being exploited by politically exposed persons to acquire state assets.
“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 a 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.
The legislator has in the last few days led a crusade against the decision by the management of the Social Security and Insurance Trust to offload 60 percent of its shares to Rock City Hotel owned by Food and Agriculture Minister, Bryn Acheampong.
Mr Ablakwa had petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sale alluding to issues of conflict of interest.
The North Tongu Member of Parliament had argued that it was not only against the tenets of the country’s constitution but a blatant abuse of power for a minister of state to be involved in the purchase of a state assert.
He argued further that Mr Bryn Acheampong who is a cabinet minister might at a point be privy to insider information on the sale information at cabinet meetings.
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust in a response said it had adhered to best international practices in all processes of the deal.
Management of SSNIT explained that it settled on Rock City Hotel Limited because it presented the best bid and met the criteria set out in the Request form proposals (RFP).
