The New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, has argued against accusations of conflict of interest in the sale of a 60 percent stake in four SSNIT-owned hotels to Rock City Hotel, owned by Minister Bryan Acheampong.

Ahiagbah pointed out that the process to sell SSNIT's shares began in 2018, well before Acheampong became a minister.

He questioned why concerns about the procurement process were not raised earlier and suggested they only surfaced due to Acheampong's cabinet role.

“The question of conflict of interest for me does not arise because the process to offload SSNIT’s interests in these hotels started in 2018, 5 years before Hon. Bryan Acheampong became the Minister for Food and Agriculture. Again, the question must be asked: Had SSNIT terminated the procurement process to divest its shares to Rock City between 2019 and 2023 before Bryan Acheampong became a minister, would there have been any concerns or issues of conflict of interest?

“If there would not have been a conflict of interest concerns had Rock City bought SSNIT’s share before Bryan Acheampong became a minister, why is it a concern now?”

Ahiagbah further stated that if the sale had concluded before Acheampong's ministerial appointment, conflict of interest would likely not be an issue.

Ahiagbah also criticized Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, for orchestrating the 'Hands off our Hotels' demonstration aimed at pressuring President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to stop the transaction.

The SSNIT Hotel Transaction, a potential threat to the independence of a state institution, is a matter of grave concern...The right for citizens to demonstrate is a core democratic right. However, I expected Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa to have waited for the conclusion of the…— Richard Ahiagbah (@RAahiagbah) June 18, 2024

Ahiagbah emphasized his willingness to participate in demonstrations backed by concrete evidence of biased bidding before Acheampong's ministry.

“He insists the demonstration lacks evidence to the effect that Rock City did not win the bid competitively or that other bidders submitted superior bids compared to Rock City.”

“I am open to joining any demonstration that provides concrete evidence that the bidding process, initiated in 2018 before Bryan Acheampong assumed his ministerial role, was biased in favour of Rock City. Or a demonstration that proves that Rock City did not win the bid competitively or that other bidders submitted superior bids compared to Rock City.”