I’m Determined To Move The Motion Of Censure Against Ofori-Atta On Thursday – Minority Leader

Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has said he is determined to move the motion of vote of censure against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, on Thursday, November 10, 2022

The Minority filed the vote on censure against the Minister on grounds of conflict of interest and financial recklessness leading to the current economic crisis.

However, the Tamale South lawmaker said the Minority will need the support of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament to achieve their desire to remove the Minister.

He said any move by the NPP lawmakers to rescind their quest to get Mr Ofori-Atta removed will hurt Ghana’s democracy by weakening the oversight role of Parliament.

“I’m determined to move the motion of censure.

“Admittedly, the Minority MPs, standing alone, may not achieve the two thirds number and so when the Majority said they will support us, it was comforting. If they chicken out, it will weaken Parliament, it will weaken oversight role of Parliament and the minister will run riot,” he said on TV3.

He added “Anywhere in the world, Mr Ofori-Atta should have been gone by now, taking full responsibility for what has happened.”

The Speaker admitted the motion of censure against Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta filed by the Minority in Parliament on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

The vote of censure against Mr Ofori-Atta was filed in compliance with Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution.

The Minority explained that the decision was based on the “alarming incompetence resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy” and some ethical breaches.

The grounds the Minority cites for the vote of censure are:

• 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.
• 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:
• Illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts, in flagrant violation of Article 176 of the 1992 Constitution:
• 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:
• Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude, resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and an excruciating cost of living crisis;
• Gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy which as occasioned untold and unprecedented hardship