The New Patriotic Party (NPP) backbenchers in Parliament have issued an ultimatum to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to give the Finance Minister and his deputies the boot.
According to the MPs, if the President fails to heed their call they will boycott all government business in Parliament including the budget reading and debate.
The NPP MPs gave the ultimatum on Tuesday 25th October, 2022 when the House returned from recess.
Addressing the media, the spokesperson of the group, member for Asante Akim North, and former Deputy Minister for Railway Development, Andy Appiah-Kubi, stressed that such action would boost the market’s confidence and stabilize the Ghanaian currency.
Recent developments within the economy, he said, are of great concern to the Majority Caucus and their constituents.
According to him, they have already expressed these concerns to the President through their Caucus leadership but have not received any response.
He said, “We are, by this medium, expressing our strong desire that the President change the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope to the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy.”
“We plead that the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori atta, and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahene be removed from office immediately.”
”We hope this prayer will be carried to the presidency,” he added.
He warned that if President Alifo-Addo fails to clear the Ministry of these two appointees, they will have nothing to do for the government in Parliament.
He said, “We want to serve notice now that until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the majority caucus here in Parliament will not participate in any government business by or for the President of any minister.
Hon. Appiah-Kubi appealed to all backbenchers and members of the majority, in general, to abide by the decision.
The group warned, however, that unless the request is responded to positively, they will also boycott the presentation of the 2023 budget statement and will also not participate in the debate.
