Ken Ofori-Atta’s resignation as finance minister is being called into question by New Patriotic Party (NPP) members of parliament, who are set to convene this week to renew their demands.
The Finance Minister must resign, according to the roughly 80 lawmakers, after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout was successfully negotiated.
On Friday, May 19, Ghana was given the first payment of $600 million from the $3 billion three-year extended financial support provided by the IMF.
President Akufo-Addo, according to one of the MPs, Eugene Boakye Antwi (MP for Subin), must keep his word and fire Ken Ofori-Atta.
Background
In response to the nation’s economic problems, the Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim-North, Andy Appiah Kubi, and other New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs demanded the Finance Minister’s dismissal in 2022 and threatened to boycott the 2023 budget presentation.
After speaking with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo about the issue, the MPs later changed their minds.
They succumbed to the President’s pleadings for the Minister to continue in her position in order to finalize Ghana’s bailout agreement with the Bretton Woods organization.
NPP MP’s stage walkout in parliament over Vote of Censure motion against Ken Ofori-Atta
On December 8, 2022, members of the majority caucus of parliament staged a walkout when the vote to determine the fate of the finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, came after the discussion of the censure motion’s report.
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who led the walkout said they cannot be part of a process that was baseless and politically motivated.
Source: Citinewsroom
