According to Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, confidential court documents he has obtained and is currently examining reveal a long-running scheme by top NPP officials to capture SSNIT’s hotels, particularly the profitable Labadi Beach Hotel, in a brazen attempt to exploit state resources for political gain.
The MP revealed that further investigations have uncovered that Hon. Bryan Acheampong is not the sole individual linked to the ruling party with interests in the Labadi Beach Hotel, suggesting that others may also be involved in the scheme.
He also noted that the court documents reveal that the son of former NPP National Chairman, Kwaw Worsemao Blay, now claims ownership of the Labadi Beach Hotel’s beachfront, a property that has historically belonged to the hotel
“Labadi Beach Hotel has thus become the only beachfront hotel in the world that does not have exclusive control over its entire beachfront”. – Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
As such, he indicated that the Labadi Beach Hotel’s Board and management are unable to intervene or prevent the encroachment due to the significant political influence and clout of those involved.
“Ghanaians may never have known of this shocking hostile 2022 takeover by then NPP Chairman, Mr. Freddy Worsemao Blay’s son if Mr. Kwaw Worsemao Blay’s business partner, Mr. Loic Devos Junior had not initiated legal action at an Accra High Court (Commercial Division) on February 17, 2023 alleging that his business partner, Mr. Kwaw Worsemao Blay has cheated him out of their business operations and fraudulently denied him of the financial benefits of their joint business dealings”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Furthermore, Hon. Ablakwa indicated that Loic Devos Junior’s court application revealed that he partnered with Kwaw Worsemao Blay, and together they incorporated Gold Coast Expo Limited in Ghana on August 27, 2019.
Ablakwa revealed that Gold Coast Expo Limited, the company in question, has been hosting the Polo Beach Club entertainment event at the Labadi beachfront from 2019 to December 2021
Ablakwa revealed that Gold Coast Expo Limited formed a joint venture partnership with Labadi Beach Hotel, granting them access to the hotel’s beachfront for their Polo Beach Club events in a mutually beneficial arrangement.
“All parties agreed to use Labadi Beach Hotel’s reception as the entrance and exit to the Polo Beach Club events. This arrangement helped to transparently determine the gate fee proceeds. Shockingly, Mr. Kwaw Worsemao Blay, arbitrarily and unilaterally breached the terms of the joint venture agreement with Labadi Beach Hotel by totally excluding Labadi Beach Hotel and thereby making Labadi lose revenue”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Furthermore, Ablakwa revealed that Kwaw Worsemao Blay unilaterally and irresponsibly seized control of the beachfront, creating a private entry point to grant himself exclusive access and control over all revenue generated from the gate since the 2022 Polo Beach Club event.
Ablakwa pointed out that Loic Devos Junior revealed in the court document that he has been cut off from company accounts and that Kwaw Worsemao Blay has completely taken over all business dealings, including sponsorship agreements, using his other company, Press Xpress Limited, to consolidate control.
“Insiders at Labadi Beach Hotel tell me that the Board and management of Labadi Beach Hotel vehemently protested and launched an internal inquiry”. – Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Ablakwa revealed that the Labadi Beach Hotel board queried former MD Rene Vincent-Ernst on March 8, 2022, over his alleged role in aiding Kwaw Worsemao Blay’s encroachment of the hotel’s beachfront.
Former MD Rene Vincent-Ernst Implicated in Beachfront Violation
Furthermore, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated that the Board found former MD Rene Vincent-Ernst complicit in aiding Blay’s violation of the joint venture agreement, granting him unauthorized access to the beachfront, which Blay now falsely claims to own.
“Mr. Rene Vincent-Ernst was therefore dismissed by the Labadi Beach Hotel board on November 3, 2022”. – Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Furthermore, Ablakwa revealed that the Labadi board rejected Mr. Vincent-Ernst’s attempted resignation on September 22, 2022, due to the ongoing investigation into his alleged collusion with Mr. Blay to seize the beachfront, which was still active at the time.
According to Ablakwa, following his termination, Mr. Rene Vincent-Ernst filed a lawsuit with the Accra Human Rights Court on November 18, 2022, contesting his dismissal and seeking €40,000.00 in outstanding entitlements.
“From the court filings, Mr. Loic Devos Junior is seeking ex-parte orders of interlocutory injunction to restrain Mr. Kwaw Worsemao Blay from going ahead to launch their own version of Polo Beach Club events within the Labadi Beach Hotel as Gold Coast had procured and secured rights since December 2019”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
As such, Ablakwa pointed out that Loic is also seeking a court order to prevent Mr. Kwaw Worsemao Blay and his associates, including agents, employees, and partners, from misappropriating the company’s proprietary business interests and assets.
Ablakwa stated that Loic is further seeking a court order to freeze all funds received by Gold Coast or its Polo Beach Club events during the 2021 and 2022 events, preventing Mr. Kwaw Worsemao Blay from spending or disposing of these monies.
Ablakwa further stated that Loic is seeking an additional court order to prevent Mr. Kwaw Worsemao Blay and Press Xpress Limited (the first and second respondents) from falsely claiming to be the legitimate Managing Director of Gold Coast, and from misrepresenting themselves as such.
“It would be interesting to see how all these court cases are finally determined. What is clear, however, Freddy Blay’s son, Kwaw Worsemao Blay has taken total control over the encroached Labadi Beach Hotel beachfront”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
The MP pointed out that, despite the efforts of the Labadi board and management to prevent it, Kwaw Worsemao Blay has continued to build permanent structures on the encroached beachfront and has taken full control of the area, solidifying his unauthorized presence
Furthermore, he disclosed that, notably, Mr. Blay fails to share his substantial profits with Labadi Beach Hotel, despite his unauthorized use of their beachfront.
He also noted that hotel guests at Labadi Beach have complained to management about how Mr. Kwaw Worsemao Blay’s humongous beachfront construction blocks their view and how Mr. Blay’s loud sounds disturb their serenity but management remains helpless and hapless.
“The grand state-capture agenda to dismember Labadi Beach Hotel and share it amongst NPP big shots continues with utter impunity”. – Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
As such, Ablakwa expressed his utter dismay and disappointment at the board and management of Labadi Beach Hotel and the overseeing SSNIT board for their inaction and complicity in allowing Mr. Kwaw Worsemao Blay’s brazen bullying and intimidation, which has led to the significant encroachment on Labadi’s beachfront
Ablakwa pointed out the hypocrisy of the ruling NPP, who claim that SSNIT hotels are unprofitable and struggling, yet they and their family members are going to great lengths to acquire and own these very same hotels.
“If President Akufo-Addo fails to call his marauding men to order, nothing will stop our June 18 DEMO”. – Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
On a positive note, he expressed his satisfaction that he and his team are making significant headway with their Private Member’s Bill, which aims to prohibit the sale of state assets to politicians and politically exposed individuals, thereby preventing potential conflicts of interest and promoting transparency.
