IMF Negotiations, 2023 budget should not stop Ofori-Atta’s dismissal – Mahama to Akufo-Addo

Former President John Dramani Mahama has lashed out at President Akufo-Addo for refusing to sack his Finance Minister.

The former president believes talks or engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) can still proceed without Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

He spoke at a forum dubbed “Building the Ghana We Want” in Accra on Thursday at UPSA.

“I’ve noted the draft motion of censure by the Minority against the Minister of Finance and the recent rebellion of G95 group (95 Majority Members of Parliament) calling for the removal of the minister.

“I’ve also noted the statement of the Majority Leader of a so-called compromise reached that the minister will leave after he has completed the budget and the IMF negotiations.

“I think this is untenable. Budget preparation and IMF negotiations are the results of teamwork. They are not the work of one individual. I fail to see how the absence of the minister will affect the preparation of the budget and the negotiation with the International Monetary Fund,” he indicated.

He thus urged the president to let the Finance Minister go and further take control of the Economic Management Team.

“There surely must be persons with the requisite experience in the NPP to carry on this work. After all, what happened to the mantra we have the men??”

“The president must not only replace his Finance Minister; he must also reconstitute and take control of the Economic Management Team himself,” he added.

Below is his full speech