Daniel McKorley
BUSINESS MOGUL, Daniel McKorley, popularly called MacDan, has rejected calls for the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta as Minister of Finance.
According to the founder of MacDan Shipping Company Limited, the minister must be given time as well as encouragement as he takes steps to fix the broken economy.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of McDan Group believes that inasmuch as he respects the views of those calling for the minister’s head, they should also understand that President Akufo-Addo knows the reason why he appointed him to that high office.
Speaking on the Business Focus programme on TV3 on Monday, August 29, 2022, McDan stated that, “I have respect for those calling for his dismissal. The Finance Minister must be given the chance to fix Ghana’s problems. The President knows why he is still keeping him.”
His defence comes on the back of calls by some people, especially members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), who have asked the President to sack the Finance Minister following Ghana’s return to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout.
Proposing a way the economy could be fixed, especially the local currency becoming stable, McDan was optimistic that the Songhor salt project at Ada in the Greater Accra Region, will earn Ghana more dollars through export to help shore up the local currency.
One of his companies, Electrochem secured a 15-year lease for salt mining as part of efforts to grow the economy.
“Songhor salt exports will bring in enough dollars to help stabilise the cedi,” Mr. McKorley further stated.
He continued that, “I went to Ada to develop Songhor for the benefit of this country.”
The NDC has called on President Akufo-Addo to sack Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Vice President Bawumia from the government’s Economic Management Team.
According to the party, these two key members of the NPP government are “villains” who are wreaking havoc on the economy.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, August 3, NDC’s Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, said getting rid of these men and replacing them with abled individuals would help breathe life back into the economy.
“Regardless of our running to the IMF, the only way to begin the process of rebuilding, if we are to get any good deal from the IMF, is to sack Ken Ofori-Atta immediately and appoint a fresh, able hand in his stead to lead the IMF negotiations,” he said.
On Bawumia, Mr. Gyamfi stated that the Economic Management Team has been reduced to a gaseous team who have deserted their roles in these difficult and critical times.
“It is about time our tired, clueless and incompetent Vice President is finally relieved for new ideas and competent hands to take over and steer the Economic Management Team at this time of unspeakable hardships,” he added.
Besides some members of the opposition calling for the head of the minister, there are some persons, especially governance experts who have made similar call, including Kwadwo Mpiani, a former Chief of Staff under former President John Agyekum Kufuor and former President John Dramani Mahama.
However, President Akufo-Addo has dismissed calls for him to reshuffle his ministers.
According to him, there is no justification for the demand, insisting most of his ministers have met his expectations.
BY Vincent Kubi