Censure Motion Will Mount Pressure On Ministers To Sit Up – Haruna Iddrisu

Minority Leader in Parliament Haruna Iddrisu has suggested that the censure motion filed against Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will serve as a lesson for other ministers to work effectively in accordance with constitutional procedure.

Addressing the House on Thursday, December 8, 2022, the MP for Tamale South noted that there were ministers malfunctioning in their designated positions but have still not been reshuffled, and that is causing more harm to the state.

According to him, after the censure motion, President Akufo-Addo will see the relevance of legislative power in Ghana.

“This censure vote will allow all other ministers to sit up. President Akufo-Addo himself will also learn a lesson from it and know the work of Parliament,” he noted.

He indicated that the Minority Caucus has the responsibility to hold Mr Ofori-Atta accountable for the charges levelled against him in Parliament.

However, the Minority failed with the censure motion as the MPs who voted for the removal of Mr Ofori-Atta did not meet the two-thirds requirement by Parliament.

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 Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, subsequently referred the vote of a censure motion against Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to an ad hoc committee of Parliament.

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.