Ofori-Atta Survives Censure Vote As Parliament Fails To Reach A Quorum
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is expected to remain in office following the failure of Parliament to succeed with a vote of censure against him.
Legislators who participated in the vote of no confidence on Thursday did not reach the two-thirds threshold prescribed in Parliamentary Standing Orders; hence Mr. Ofori-Atta survived.
This was because the Majority in Parliament, who were against the process, boycotted the voting after a fierce debate.
The debate was based on the report submitted by an eight-member committee constituted by the Speaker of Parliament to probe the vote of censure moved by the Minority in Parliament.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, decided to put the adoption of the report of the ad-hoc committee to a voice vote, which is consistent with Parliamentary practice.
With the House occupied mainly by MPs from the Minority side due to the walkout staged by the Majority, the voice votes were in favour of the motion to accept the report.
“The ayes have it. So, the report from the ad-hoc committee has accordingly been adopted,” The Speaker of Parliament ruled.
On the resolution concerning the vote of censure, which was done by a secret ballot, the MPs in favour of the removal of Mr Ofori Atta were 136.
No legislator voted against the motion, and no MP abstained.
However, Article 82(1) of Parliament states: “Parliament may by a resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of all the members of parliament pass a vote of censure on a minister of state”.
Citing Article 82(1), the Speaker said: “The vote is accordingly lost”.
Background
It will be recalled that on October 25, 2022, the Minority in Parliament filed a censure motion against the Finance Minister in compliance with Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
The Minority explained that the decision was based on the “alarming incompetence resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy” and some ethical breaches.
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu insisted the record inflation rate, depreciation of the cedi, excessive borrowing, reckless spending, and the failure to control fuel prices were clear indications that the Finance Minister was not fit to continue in his role.
Although the Majority had earlier declared its support, it made a u-turn, claiming the Minority’s motive for removing Ofori-Atta was ill-intended and ultimately differed from their demands.
The committee, composed of eight members, with four from each side of the House, was expected to submit its report for consideration within seven days.
NDC Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, Dominic Ayine, and NPP MP for Adansi-Asokwa KT Hammond were committee co-chairs.
The Minority in Parliament stated the following as the basis for which Mr Ofori-Atta should be removed:
1. Despicable conflict of interest ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantages, particularly from Ghana’s debt overhang.
2. Unconstitutional withdrawals from the consolidated fund in blatant contravention of Article 178 of the 1992 constitution, supposedly for the construction of the President’s Cathedral.
3. Illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts in flagrant violation of Article 176 of the 1992 constitution.
4. Deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament.
5. Fiscal recklessness, leading to the crash of the Ghana cedi, which is currently the worst-performing currency in the world.
6. Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude, resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and an excruciating cost of living crisis.
7. Gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy, which has occasioned untoward and unprecedented hardship.