The Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta should explain why he should be allowed to stay in office until the conclusion of the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a Professor at the University of Ghana, Ransford Gyampo, has said.
Prof Gyampo indicated that the Finance Minister owes it a duty to explain to Ghanaians because, prior to the IMF discussion, he indicated on several occasions that he didn’t believe in the IMF deal, but is now leading the negotiations.
“Why do you want to complete a deal you have not believed in? You owe it a duty to explain that previously, [you] dint believe in IMF but now [you] believe in it,” he said.
The Majority in Parliament to agreed to a plea by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to have his ministers at the Finance Ministry stay on a little longer despite pressure from the caucus.
Some members of the Majority caucus on Tuesday, October 25 demanded the removal of the sector minister, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, and the Minister of State at the Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, as well as their deputies for the poor management of the country’s economy.
They threatened that they will have no business to do in Parliament for the government if this demand is not met.
“We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the President changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State in the Finance Ministry without further delay,” Asante-Akyem North Member (MP) Andy Appiah-Kubi led the over 80 MPs.
“We want to serve notice, and notice is hereby served 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 business of Government by or, for the president by any other Minster.”
A meeting was subsequently called later Tuesday evening by President Akufo-Addo, who appealed for some time for his embattled ministers especially as Ghana is negotiating a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the 2023 budget is also being compiled.
Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on Wednesday, in an interview with TV3‘s Roland Walker, promised to go back to the aggrieved MPs for a meeting and get back to the President.
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On Wednesday, he released a statement on the outcome of the meeting with all the Majority MPs.
“After deliberations among the Majority Caucus today, Wednesday, 26th October, 2022, it was agreed to accede to the President’s plea.”