SSNIT Hotels: I Am Totally Against Looting of State Property – Hon Vondee
The Member of Parliament for Twifo Atti Morkwa, David T.D Vondee, has expressed concern over the wanton dissipation and looting of state property. He vowed to support his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in retrieving all looted state property when the party wins political power in the December 7 polls.
He cited the sale of 60% of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust’s (SSNIT) stake in four hotels to Rock-City, owned by Bryan Acheampong, as the reason for his call.
In an interview with EXPRESSNEWSGHANA in Parliament, Mr. Vondee stated that looted state property and funds, no matter where they are hidden, will be recovered to better the country.
The MP, who is a member of the Holding Office of Profit Committee of Parliament, was reacting to media reports that he asked Ghanaians to leave the Rock City Hotels and its CEO, Bryan Acheampong, for putting a bid for the SSNIT Hotels and rather tackle the SSNIT Board and the government.
According to him, his comment was misrepresented. He did not exonerate Bryan Acheampong but rather reinforced his party’s position that the government was engaged in corrupt practices by selling 60% of SSNIT’s stake to New Patriotic Party (NPP) members and their associates.
He told EXPRESSNEWSGHANA that he was totally against the sale of state property to public officials and would not encourage the brazen grabs of state property by public officials, whether in office or out of office.
The lawmaker said President Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration pledge to fight corruption has failed completely, as “no effort has been made by the government to fight corruption,” and that curbing corruption and impunity in Ghana is no longer a priority under the NPP.
He said an NDC government led by President John Mahama and Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman would make looting of state property unattractive, and the rate of acquisition of state assets would drop drastically, saying, “I personally will not aid criminality in public office.”
“I always say, if you are a public officer, you have no business dealing with state property, and I wish to state that we will recover all these looted state properties and funds of politically exposed persons, their allies, and cronies no matter the jurisdiction. We will trace and return all state property and taxpayers’ funds and ill-gotten properties stolen from the people of Ghana.”
While assuring a serious fight against corruption, Vondee commended Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, his colleague MP for North Tongu, for his focus, drive, and zeal to protect state assets.
He said it was out of that commitment he participated in and sponsored people to join in the #HandsOffOurHotels demonstration in Accra in recent weeks and called on Ghanaians to vote for the NDC to protect state property.
Mr. Vondee, however, advised Bryan Acheampong, the current Minister for Food and Agriculture, to back off from the SSNIT Hotels deals to save his image.
“Bryan is my friend, and I told him to his face and on some radio stations, to back off. He should abandon the idea of buying the SSNIT Hotels. I told him, ‘You are already a big boy, an established businessman. Why allow this to soil your reputation?’” he said.
Copy of his statement clarifying his comment
For more news stories and articles, contact EXPRESSNEWSGHANA via email at expressnewsgh@gmail.com or WhatsApp at +233 0543 900 732.
Source: Felix Nyaaba//expressnewsghana.com
About Author
