Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has offered an unqualified apology to the Ghanaian people for the pain and suffering they are going through.
According to him, as Finance Minister he is truly sorry to the Ghanaian people.
He stated that when the Akufo-Addo government set out so purposefully between 2017 and the early parts of 2020, it never imagined that a global pandemic such as COVID, with its prolong economic fallout would inflict such pain and suffering upon the Ghanaian people.
“Let me use this opportunity to say to the Ghanaian people what I believe, with courage, every Finance Minister around the world may wish to say to his people now: I am truly sorry,” he said.
The Minister acknowledged that the shock of the pandemic to the system has been hard and the impact on livelihood severe but assured the government has not been resting on its oars.
“We continue to work to keep the lights on, to avoid the queues at our filling stations, our classrooms full, our hospitals and dispensaries mostly stocked with medicines, continue to pay salaries and our roads being built and fixed.”
The Finance Minister offered the apology on Friday, November 18 when he made his much-awaited appearance before the Parliamentary Committee investigating the Vote of Censure motion filed by the Minority group.
Mr. Ofori-Atta stated the Ghanaian economy is facing difficulties and people enduring hardship and stressed as the person in charge of the economy, he feels the pain personally, professionally and in his soul.
He said, “I see and feel the terrible impact of rising prices of goods and services on the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Ghanaians. I feel the stress of running a business.”
“But, it is the strength and perseverance of the Ghanaian people that inspire me and my colleagues in Government every morning, to press on.”
“That is what gives me the strength to press on to find solutions and relief for Ghanaians to the myriad of problems that our country and the rest of the world are facing, especially, since March 2020.”
Mr. Ofori-Atta admitted the enormity of the current economic challenges but stressed government has a well-consulted plan and the commitment to address it and stressed he and the Ministry of Finance have been working so hard to quickly restore market confidence and ensure economic growth.
He said, “We are nearly through with the IMF negotiations. I am confident that once we conclude our debt sustainability programme and secure a Fund programme, the nation will next year see the stability and fiscal space that can spur us back on to a sustainable economic recovery and growth, which should endure considering on the investments we have made in all sectors.”
He observed that as a nation, Ghanaians are being tested and stressed the circumstances require a united and concerted response to the crisis.
He appealed to chiefs, elders and churches to take the mantle and speak a common language.
“Let us all work as one country to support labour negotiations, find a solution to the impasse in Parliament and rise above witch-hunting and entrapment.”
“These are not ennobling and progressive for a society seeking transformation,” he said.
He averred that Ghana is a resilient country but has faced economic challenges since independence and stressed the nation has always come through each of these stronger and better than before adding, “God willing we shall come out of these difficult times too. Ghana will and must arise again.”
