Organised Labour Declares Nationwide Strike Over Controversial SSNIT Hotels Sale

In a move to protest the approval of the sale of four hotels owned by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to Rock City Hotel Limited, a company linked to the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, Organised Labour has announced a nationwide strike starting Monday, July 15, 2024.

The strike follows a directive from the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) to SSNIT to halt the sale process, which was later approved despite concerns raised by labour unions.

The hotels in question are Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Elmina Beach Resort, and Ridge Royal Hotel.

Labour leaders argue that the sale is not in the best interest of Ghanaian workers and demand that SSNIT terminate the process immediately.

The strike is expected to affect all workers in Ghana until the demand is met.

“From Monday 15 of July 2024, all workers in Ghana must not go to work until SSNIT publicly announces the termination of the process for the sale of its shares in the hotels,” the group announced in a press release.

Answering an urgent question on the floor of Parliament yesterday, July 11, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, revealed that the National Pensions Regulatory Authority is satisfied with the documents and has asked SSNIT to proceed with the sale negotiations with the selected bidder.

“Yes, it is true that NPRA issued a directive, but I would appreciate it if my colleague would read the directive from NPRA. It stated that all information related to the sale of the hotels was needed, which SSNIT has provided. It’s not a directive that SSNIT should not proceed, but rather, yes, so as a minister, I can tell you on authority that NPRA has indicated that they have seen the process and think that SSNIT can proceed.”