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On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, a ‘Hands Off Our Hotels’ demonstration led by lawmaker Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa erupted into violence as police officers blocked protesters from advancing to the Jubilee House to present a petition to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Despite the police blockade, the determined protesters insisted on moving forward, leading to clashes with armed uniformed men. Teargas and rubber bullets were reportedly used to disperse the crowd, resulting in some protesters collapsing and requiring hospitalization.
The demonstration was organized in opposition to the sale of four Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) hotels to Rock City Hotel Limited. The Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Elmina Beach Resort, and Busua Beach Resort are among the properties in question.
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Starting at the Labadi Beach Hotel, the protesters aimed to march to the Jubilee House, demanding an immediate cessation of the hotel sale by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. They argued that profitable state assets like Labadi Beach Hotel and Ridge Royal should not be sold without the consent of workers and asserted that these assets are more lucrative than Rock City Hotel, owned by Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong.
In response, SSNIT refuted allegations of impropriety, explaining that the decision to sell a 60% stake in its hotels to Rock City Hotel was part of a strategy to raise capital for hotel investments and improve management. This strategy was initiated in 2018 following International Competitive Tendering (ICT) procedures mandated by the Public Procurement Act.
Despite SSNIT’s explanation, Ablakwa has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the matter, aiming to halt the sale and raise awareness of what he describes as “state capture.”
