Ofori-Atta’s removal will restore hope – Parliament
The Majority and Minority Members in Parliament are calling for the removal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and Dr. Charles Adu Boahen [Minister of State, Finance] over market turbulence and underperformance, reckons his sack will restore hope in the financial sector.
According to the caucus, they have had occasion to defend allegations of conflict of interest and lack of confidence against leadership of the Finance Ministry.
Ghana’s economic expansion has fallen short of a government forecast as soaring inflation, currency slide against the US dollar reduces private consumption and investment.
The IMF had projected a 3.6 percent growth rate this year and given signs of recovery towards the end of 2021 as the worst of the pandemic eased. But that recovery has been interrupted, leading to weakening cedi and businesses closing shops over hikes in taxes.
This among others have led to calls in some quarters for the resignation of the finance minister.
Addressing the press following the resumption of the 8th parliament of the second session of the third meeting from recess on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the caucus, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi said it has become imperative to arrive at this decision.
He said, “The recent developments within our economy are of great concern to the greater majority of members to our caucus and our constituents. We have made our concern to the president through the parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without any positive response.
We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the president change the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State in the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope into the financial sector and reverse downward trend in the growth of the economy.”
Mr. Appiah Kubi who is also the MP for Asante Akim North added that it is their hope “that the prayer will be carried to the presidency.
“We want to serve notice that until such persons are made to resign or removed from office, we [MPs of the Majority caucus] herein parliament will not participate in any business of government by or for the president by any other minister.”
Ghana’s government is in the process of negotiating a support package with the International Monetary Fund, but some merchants say that help is not coming fast enough.
Economic growth plummeted at 3.3% in the first quarter of this year, less than half the 7% growth seen in the last quarter of 2021 as the West African nation battled runaway inflation, a depreciating local currency and high public debt.
Minority endorses removal
The First Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ibrahim Ahmed urged the majority to join forces with them to bring the matter up on the floor of parliament.
“We are not stopping with the motion for the impeachment of the finance minister and now that the indication is from our brothers [majority], they must support us to move the motion on the floor because if MPs don’t want Finance Minister, we cannot be blaming the president, we have the power to use 183MPs to impeach him. But if we don’t do this we reduce democracy to mere talk shop.”
According to Hon.Ahmed, the president is stalling on sacking the finance minister because the latter supported the ruling party during the election campaign.
