Permit Ofori-Atta To Conclude IMF Negotiations – Akufo-Addo To NPP MPs
President Akufo-Addo has appealed for more time for the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to conclude negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before any talks of resignation.
President Akufo-Addo entreated the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) demanding the removal of Mr Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister to hold on till Ghana finalises negotiations for aid to turn the fortunes of the economy.
The president has hinted that a deal could be reached with the IMF in three weeks for a $3 billion balance of payment support.
The president believes this could be disrupted if Mr Ofori-Atta is removed or forced to resign.
This was an outcome of a meeting held by President Akufo-Addo and NPP Members of Parliament on October 25 over the demand for the finance minister to be sacked for overseeing the economy, which has taken a nosedive.
Reports indicate that the MPs were unhappy with the appeal and insisted on the finance minister’s exit.
It is unclear whether they will carry through their threat to boycott government businesses if Mr Ofori-Atta remains in office.
Some NPP MPs say several efforts to have the government address the plights of their constituents about the ailing economy had proved futile.
They thus held a press conference on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, to voice their disquiet and demanded the head of Mr Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen.
The MP for the Asante-Akim North Constituency and spokesperson for the disgruntled Majority MPs group, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, told the media on Tuesday that sacking Ofori-Atta and Mr Adu Boahen will help restore confidence in Ghana’s economy.
“The recent development within the economy is of major concern to our caucus and our constituents. We have made our grave concern known to our president through the parliamentary leadership and the party’s leadership without any positive response,” he said.
“We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the president changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry without further delay to restore hope to the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy,” he added.