Sophia Abena Boafowaa Akuffo, Ghana's former Chief Justice
Sophia Abena Boafowaa Akuffo, Ghana’s former Chief Justice, has torn into the recent debacle surrounding the botched sale of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) shares in some luxury hotels. In a no-holds-barred interview with TV3, Akuffo branded the scandal as a glaring example of a deep-rooted problem where state officials deliberately sabotage public assets to sell them off cheaply to cronies.
Sophia Akuffo didn’t mince her words, calling out the systematic decay. “Of course, SSNIT will justify it. They’ve run down these hotels just like countless other public properties, slashing their value. Then, they swoop in with sweetheart deals, distributing these assets among themselves. SSNIT can claim defamation, but I don’t care,” she blasted.
Akuffo didn’t stop there. She shredded the deal that aimed to sell shares to Rock City Hotel, owned by Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong. “It reeks of conflict of interest. You can’t be judge and jury, lawyer and litigant all in one. It’s unethical,” she asserted.
Akuffo emphasized that such practices are ingrained in the public sector, eroding trust and integrity. “A reasonable person on the street would say it stinks. If it looks bad, it is bad. Being a public official means adhering to ethical standards, even beyond legal requirements. As the Bible says, ‘I can do all things, but not all things are good,’” she concluded.
In a twist, SSNIT’s Board Chair, Elizabeth Akua Ohene, announced on July 12 that the sale of the Labadi Beach, La Palm, Ridge Royal, and Elmina Beach hotels had been terminated. “The process to divest 60% of SSNIT’s stake in the hotels has been halted,” she stated, following public outcry and Akuffo’s explosive revelations.
This scandal has spotlighted the pressing need for accountability and transparency in managing Ghana’s public assets, with many now calling for a thorough investigation into SSNIT’s dealings.
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