John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s recent comments regarding the contested sale of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) hotels.
Speaking during the launch of the NDC’s 2024 manifesto on Saturday, August 24, at Winneba, Mahama asserted that Akufo-Addo’s remarks reveal a disconnect between the president’s perspective and the concerns of ordinary Ghanaians.
Mahama claimed that most Ghanaians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, with trust in democratic institutions and political leadership at a historic low.
He pointed to the president’s dismissal of the controversy surrounding the SSNIT hotels as indicative of a deeper problem.
“When the President says he does not understand the hullaballoo about the sale of SSNIT hotels to a minister in his government, it is clear he is on a completely different wavelength than the rest of the country,” Mahama said.
President Akufo-Addo had downplayed the controversy, highlighting a reported GHS230 million surplus in SSNIT’s operations as evidence of the trust’s improved performance.
At the Trades Union Congress (TUC) quadrennial conference on August 20, Akufo-Addo suggested that the public’s focus on the SSNIT hotel sale must be revised.
SSNIT hotel sales have been a contentious issue, drawing criticism from various stakeholders, including former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo.
Akuffo had alleged that SSNIT’s management intentionally devalued the hotels to facilitate a sale among insiders. SSNIT, however, refuted these claims, stating that the allegations undermined the trust’s integrity.
The management defended its selling decision, citing persistent losses and a lack of funding for necessary improvements.
Following public outcry and opposition from labour unions, SSNIT terminated the sale process on July 12.
This decision came after the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) had initially reviewed and approved the sale, contingent on compliance with procedural requirements.
The controversy surrounding the SSNIT hotel sale has sparked a broader debate on governance and accountability. Mahama’s comments reflect frustrations with the current administration’s handling of public resources and its responsiveness to public concerns.
