Ablakwa Submits RTI Request to SSNIT on Rock City's Tax Clearance

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has submitted a Right to Information (RTI) application to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), seeking information on Rock City Hotel’s Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Tax Clearance Certificate.

According to Ablakwa, Rock City Hotel, owned by Ghana's Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, failed to file its tax returns for 2021 and 2022 when it participated in the bid to acquire a 60% stake in four SSNIT-owned hotels. He argued that this contravenes the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896), as well as SSNIT’s Pre-Qualification Criteria.

The lawmaker emphasized that such violations should have led to Rock City's immediate disqualification. He also requested the full evaluation report and the complete minutes of all tender committee meetings related to the sale.

In his RTI request, Ablakwa underscored the importance of transparency and accountability, urging SSNIT to fulfill his demands promptly. He stated:

“Evidence that the Rock City Hotel Limited's (with registration number CS075262016) bid for SSNIT's hotels complied with the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896) and SSNIT's own pre-qualification criteria as advertised for Project Number: GR/SSNIT/CS/0001/2022 which mandated all bidders to present a valid Ghana Revenue Authority Tax Clearance Certificate.”

“This request has become imperative considering that Rock City's record at GRA, which is now available to me, incontrovertibly confirms that Rock City did not file its annual tax returns in the fiscal years of 2021 and 2022. Indeed, Rock City's attempt to file their annual tax returns for the years in issue were carried out belatedly in 2023 and 2024 respectively, long after SSNIT's advertised deadline of 23rd March 2022.”

The unimpeachable records also show that Rock City was fined an amount of GHS 4,390.00 by GRA as a penalty for filing the 2022 tax returns two years late, that is on May 23, 2024,” an excerpt of his petition said.

Ablakwa's pursuit of this matter highlights the critical need for adherence to legal and procedural standards in public procurements and the role of vigilant oversight in ensuring such compliance.

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