The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Majority Caucus in Parliament has stated it will not support the Vote of Censure motion brought against Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta by the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) even though they want him to go.
The Motion, according to the Caucus, is premised on propaganda, falsehood and reasons that are not justifiable.
“The Minority position might look like ours but it’s not the same,” the Majority Caucus said.
At a press conference on Thursday, November 10 and representing the original 80 NPP MPs who demanded the dismissal of the Finance Minister, MP for Effiduase/Asokore, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie who addressed the media said the feeling is that confidence in the Minister has waned and he must step down.
He, however, argued the reasons adduced by the Minority for the removal of the Finance Minister are remarkably different from what the Majority is pursuing.
He argued that leveling about ten allegations against the Minister bordering on criminality and not offering him the opportunity to defend himself is pedestrian and partisan hence it will not support the Vote of Censure motion.
He said, “But for COVD and the Russia and Ukraine war he was doing very well and the economy was doing very well.”
“However, when people are hard-pressed and have no understanding to the logic of competence and hard work and when they lose confidence, it affects the markets and the pocket of people,… it is the Finance Ministry.”
“But for us we have nothing personal against the Minister.”
“Our position is clear that if confidence in him has gone down he must go but that is not the same as being demanded by the NDC,” he added.
The NPP MPs disclosed they have reverted to the original position when they demanded the Minister of Finance be dismissed.
The Caucus, Dr. Ayew said, therefore demands that Ofori-Atta should not be the person to present the 2023 Budget statement to Parliament and should not be the one to lead the appropriation.
The MPs, after a meeting with President Nana Akufo-Addo following their demand for the dismissal, rescinded the decision and agreed for Ofori-Atta to present the budget and the appropriation and also conclude the deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before stepping down.
According to Dr. Ayew, however, the side has reverted to its original position on the matter.
