Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen
Embattled Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta is most likely to leave his post in six weeks time following the agreement between President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Majority Caucus in Parliament.
This is because the first round of IMF negotiations, the Budget and the passing of the appropriations bill, all ends in 6 weeks time.
The two Ministers who have come under pressure literally appear to have been given a 6-weeks contract entension to vacate their posts per the agreement.
Some 95 New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs have called for the immediate dismissal of the Finance Minister and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen by President Akufo-Addo.
The MPs said they have been communicated to the Presidency through the leadership but to no avail.
“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 said.
The MPs mentioned that their sentiments reflect the position of the NPP caucus in the House.
However, the National Executive body of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken notice of a press conference held on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, by some members of the Majority Caucus of Parliament, demanding amongst others, the immediate resignation or dismissal of Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister for Finance, and Hon. Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry respectively.
In view of the above development, the leadership of the party is currently engaging Government as well as the Parliamentary Group, and urges all stakeholders to remain calm as it seeks an amicable resolution to the impasse.
The leadership of the Party, herein, reitirates its commitment to at all times, engage Government on issues of utmost interest and concern to the Party, Government and the citizenry.
But President Akufo-Addo has called on the Majority Caucus to hold on till the government concludes negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
According to the President, immediately terminating the appointment of the Finance Minister will disrupt the programme.
This follows a crunch meeting between MPs and the President at the Jubilee House.
The country’s economy in recent months has taken a nosedive, with the nation witnessing high inflation, serious depreciation of the Ghana cedi against major international currencies, especially the US Dollar.
By Vincent Kubi