The embattled Director General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Mr Kofi Osafo-Maafo has expressed concerns over calls for his resignation or dismissal, along with his management team, in the wake of the controversy that has attended the planned sale of 60% stake in four alleged underperforming hotels.
Kofi Osafo-Maafo described these calls as “unfair” and defended the decision to sell, citing the necessity of improving performance.
He emphasised the duty to enhance the performance of underperforming assets, saying, “If you have a duty to improve performance, you do not try to do something about it? Is that a real cardinal sin? In looking to improve the performance of underperforming assets, I don’t think that is wrong.”
He added, “You don’t manage a portfolio without doing anything; I think something has to be done.”
He acknowledged that while labour unions may disagree with involving the private sector in improving the Trust, he believes their varied opinions indicate stakeholder engagement.
“I don’t think that it is ever possible that everyone will have the same solution in mind. Some people philosophically oppose the simple fact that private investors have been brought in; you can never change their minds.
“Again, when we look at the operational improvements that have been brought in, the efficiency of SSNIT operations has been much better. Because of that, the university teachers think it is the wrong procedure. I think that it is not fair enough,” he stated.
Organised Labour declared an indefinite nationwide strike over the National Pensions Regulatory Authority’s (NPRA) approval allowing SSNIT to sell a 60% stake in four hotels to Food and Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong’s Rock City Hotel.
The University Teachers Association (UTAG), and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) demanded SSNIT management’s resignation and its board’s dissolution.
Labour relations expert Austin Gamey also insisted that the management and board had lost the trust of SSNIT contributors and must be replaced.
He advocated for increased representation of non-government stakeholders and minimal government involvement in SSNIT.
Despite these demands, Kofi Osafo-Maafo maintained that they were unfair. He however noted his willingness to engage all interest parties on the best way to sell the hotels.
“We are going to go back to the drawing board. This is an issue of stakeholder engagement, we’ve terminated the process and the stakeholders and ourselves will sit down and see how we will progress,” he said.
Meanwhile, Organised Labour has announced the suspension of its Monday strike against SSNIT’s move to offload the 60% stake and asked workers to return to work on Tuesday.
This decision was announced by the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr. Yaw Baah, after an emergency meeting on Monday, July 15.
Labour gave SSNIT a one-month ultimatum to address all their concerns.
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