NPRA Approves of Sale of SSNIT Hotels Sector Minister Announces

Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, has mentioned that Ghana’s National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) has approved the sale of 60% of SSNIT’s shares in its hotel investment portfolio.

On June 28, 2024, the NPRA directed management of SSNIT to freeze its negotiations with Bryan Acheampong’s Rock City Hotel over the sale of four hotels, as they engage in further evaluation and broader consultation.

However, answering questions during parliamentary sitting on Thursday, July 11, 2024, the sector minister confirmed that all due processes have been complied with.

“Yes, it is true that NPRA came up with a directive, but I would appreciate it if my brother, my colleague, really read the directive from NPRA. It said it needed to be finished with all information relating to the sale of the hotels, which SSNIT has since done that.

“So, it wasn’t like a direct something that SSNIT should not go ahead to do anything, but then, SSNIT can only go ahead when NPRA, which is the regulator within the field, had actually certified that they have seen all the documentation and the processes, and they think that we are good to go.

“Yes, so, as a minister, I can tell you tell you on authority that NPRA has since indicated that they have seen the processes, and they think that SSNIT can go ahead.”

He further highlighted some reasons for the sale of SSNIT’s 60 percent shares in the hotels.

“SSNIT considered only the sale of shares for its hotel investment portfolio as a strategic decision after multiple attempts at restructuring proved insufficient.

“70-60% of its shares are deemed the most viable solution to prevent further depletion of resources and to bring in private participation.”

He further posited, “Is it a good business activity? Yes, I want to believe my colleague is listening to me fully, well because I answered by saying that some of the investments are either making low returns or making losses."

“So it is not in all cases that we are making losses, but even for those that are making profits, the rate of returns is lower.”

 

Kobina Darlington/