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The dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister is being demanded by a number of New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmakers.
The MPs, who number over 80, staged a news conference on Tuesday to persuade the President to abdicate his cousin’s oversight of the nation’s finances or else risk losing their support for future government initiatives.
They also want Charles Adu Boahen, the Minister of State in charge of Finance in the Ministry of Finance, to suffer a similar fate.
Andy Appiah-Kubi, the member of parliament for Asante Akyem North, spoke about it.
He claims that the Presidency has been informed of the call through the leadership, but to no purpose.
“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 [or] by any other minister,” he clarified.
The MPs claim that their opinions are representative of the NPP caucus’ stance in the House.
The opposition MPs have consistently demanded the Minister’s resignation, with several members of civil society organizations at one time joining the chorus.
The passage of the 2023 budget, which will be crucial to spending, especially at a time when government finances are in uncertainty, is one of the important cards on the table for these majority MPs.
“If our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing, neither will we participate in the debate,” Mr Appiah-Kubi specified.
“We have had occasions to defend allegations of conflict of interest, lack of confidence and trust against leadership of our Finance Ministry. The recent developments within our economy are of great concern to the greater majority of members of our caucus and our constituents,” he said.
“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 the downward trend in the growth of our economy. The summary of our concern leads to the plea that the Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance Charles Adu Boahen should be removed from office.
“Meanwhile, we want to serve notice 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 minister. If our request is not responded to positively, we’ll not be present for the budget hearing neither would we participate in the debate,” Appiah Kubi told journalists.
The news comes as the nation’s economy continues to deteriorate and the Ministry seeks a key bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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Source: Ghanatodayonline.com/Louis Gyamerah
