Censure motion: Minority’s allegations have no legs to stand on – Afenyo-Markin

Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has argued that the Minority has failed to establish a prima facie case against the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, in relation to the motion of censure they filed for his removal.

According to him, the allegations made by the Minority “had no legs to stand on.”

Debating the motion in Parliament on Thursday, December 8, the Effutu lawmaker said that Parliament would be setting dangerous precedence if they voted on the motion.

“Should we proceed to vote on this matter, we will be setting a precedent which will come to haunt us one day. What will be the basis to vote when the committee is unable to indict him?” he questioned. “We should make no mistake, if we follow the dangerous path, the politics of this country will be condescending to make it unattractive to any person who wants to serve his country.”

His comments come after Dr Dominic Ayine, co-chair of the 8-member ad hoc committee set up to probe the censure, asserted that the Minister of Finance “misconducted himself.”

According to him, even though Mr Ofori-Atta was exonerated on some allegations levelled against him, evidence discovered during the committee hearing is enough for the minister to be removed.

On this basis, he called for a secret ballot on the motion.

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.

Subsequently, an 8-member ad-hoc committee was set up by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to probe the motion brought against the Finance Minister.

The committee presented its report to Parliament on November 25, 2022.

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.