The Majority Caucus in Parliament has acceded to the president’s appeal to allow Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, to stay in office until the conclusion of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund(IMF).
In a press statement issued by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, he was optimistic that Mr Ofori-Atta will stay in office “until the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy in November 2022 and the subsequent passage of the Appropriation Bill after which time the demand will be acted upon.”
The MPs softened their stance after a meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the matter on Wednesday, October 26, 2022.
Two-thirds of New Patriotic Party(NPP) MPs in parliament on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, called on the president to dismiss Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen for overseeing the country’s failing economy.
Addressing a press conference, the legislators said, “until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the Majority caucus here in parliament will not participate in any business of government by or for the President [or] by any other minister”.
However, the president appealed for more time for Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to conclude negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before any resignation talks.
At a meeting with the aggrieved MPs, he said terminating the appointment of Ken Ofori-Atta would disrupt the programme, which is near completion.
The president had hinted that a deal could be reached with the IMF in three weeks for a $3 billion balance of payment support.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has also filed a motion for a vote of censure against Ofori-Atta.