Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu and coordinator of the ‘Hands off our Hotels’ event, has announced that a second round of protests will take place in the Central Region.
On Tuesday, June 18, Ablakwa led demonstrators in demanding that the government stop selling the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) 60 percent of its stakes in four hotels to Rock City Hotel, a business owned by Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Food and Agriculture.
Later, he stated that there was a rising demand for a second demonstration, especially from the Central Region, which is home to Elmina and Ridge Royal, two of the impacted hotels, in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM.
Referencing a letter submitted by the Omanhene of the Edina Traditional Council opposing the sale of one of the hotels in Elmina, Ablakwa threatened further protests if the president did not act on the demonstrators’ demands to stop the sale.
On Thursday, June 20, the North Tongu lawmaker announced on Facebook that he had decided to hold a protest in the Central Region after hearing the people’s cries.
“May I respectfully assure the revered chiefs and good people of the Central Region who have called us for a patriotic partnership to stage the next #HandsOffOurHotels demonstration since they are vehemently opposed to the sale of Elmina Beach Hotel and Ridge Royal Hotel both in the Central Region that we have unanimously agreed and resolved to hold a similar massive protest in the Central Region if President Akufo-Addo fails to stop the sales within the next few days.”
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Joseph Asare
