By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Oct 02, GNA – The Board of Trustees of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has explained in a statement that Friday’s removal of unauthorised occupants from the beachfront of adjoining Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel was to protect its investments.
It said SSNIT sought the urgent intervention of the National Security Council Secretariat to address the persistent unlawful occupation, encroachment, and unauthorised activities on the beachfront adjoining and directly in front of the Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.
It noted that the two hotel properties formed part of the investment portfolio of SSNIT and constitute significant national hospitality and tourism assets.
The statement said SSNIT therefore had a fiduciary responsibility to safeguard these investments, preserve their value, and ensure that they continue to generate sustainable returns for the benefit of contributors and pensioners under the Basic National Social Security Scheme.
It said these assets belonged to the workers and pensioners of Ghana.
The statement said the continued encroachment posed significant risks, including threats to the safety and security of hotel guests, employees, service providers, and visitors.
Others are unauthorised access and proximity to sensitive guest and operational areas and increased exposure to fire, sanitation, environmental and public-health hazards
The rest are deterioration of the beachfront, privacy and service standards expected of internationally recognised hospitality facilities.
It mentioned degradation of the coastal ecosystem resulting from construction activities on the beachfront and beach sand and reputational damage to the hotels, SSNIT and Ghana’s tourism industry
The statement also cited disruption of hotel operations and the guest beach experience, with a consequent adverse effect on patronage, revenue, and overall financial performance.
The risk of further expansion of the encroachments, which could make recovery of the affected lands increasingly difficult and costly.
It said in view of the foregoing, SSNIT requested support from National Security to protect the assets belonging to Ghanaian workers.
It said the beaches would be cleaned and restored to a safe and desirable state and would remain open to the public.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei