Ken Ofori-Atta
The Vote of Censure Parliamentary Committee to investigate Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister will commence sittings today Tuesday November 15, 2022.
The committee shall sit in public as all proceedings will be broadcast live on television.
Parliament had begun a process that could lead to the removal of the Finance Minister.
An eight-member committee had been convened to investigate claims of abuse of office.
Opposition political party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) last Thursday succeeded in moving a motion of censure against Ofori-Atta, hoping to force out the finance minister to “restore confidence” into the ailing Ghanaian economy.
“We disapprove of the performance of Ken Ofori-Atta, who has ran the Ghanaian economy aground and he must take full responsibility for inflicting unprecedented hardship on the ordinary citizens.
“He is incompetent and not fit to continue as minister for finance,” Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said in Parliament as he moved the motion for censure.
The Speaker, after hearing the Minority, set up the committee to investigate the allegations and present a report within seven days.
The committee will have to present its report to the House in seven days.
The Speaker believes that setting up the committee will provide a fair opportunity for the Finance Minister to respond to allegations raised against him.
The Minority Leader in his presentation to the House stated that the record inflation rate, the depreciation of the cedi, the excessive borrowing and the reckless spending and the failure to control fuel prices are clear indications that the Finance Minister is not fit to continue in his role.
The committee is being co-chaired by the Bolgatanga East MP, Dominic Ayine and the Adansi-Asokwa MP, K.T. Hammond.
The other members of the committee are Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings and Bernard Ahiafor from the Minority side, while Patrick Yaw Boamah, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi and Andrew Agyapa Mercer constitute the group from the Majority side on the committee.
By Vincent Kubi