The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has advised against witch-hunting and entrapment to tackle the country’s economic troubles adequately.
Mr Ofori-Atta said the country is being tested, and the circumstances need a united and concerted response to the crisis.
He said this during the proceedings of the ad hoc committee probing the motion of censure filed against him by the Minority in Parliament.
“Let us all work as one country to support our labour negotiations, find a solution to the impasse in Parliament and rise above witch-hunting and entrapment,” he advised.
The two factors, he said, will continue to hinder Ghana’s growth.
“These are not ennobling and progressive for a society seeking transformation,” Mr Ofori-Atta said.
The minister added that Ghana is a resilient nation capable of rising above every hardship.
“Ghana has faced economic challenges since independence. Ghana has always come through each of them stronger and better than before. God willing, we shall come out of these difficult times too. Ghana will and must rise again,” he stressed.
Addressing the committee members, Mr Ofori-Atta insisted that he has resolved to steer the country into economic stability.
“The Ministry of Finance and I have been working so hard 24/7 to quickly restore market confidence and ensure economic growth,” he stated.
He continued: “When I assumed the position of Minister of Finance, I resolved to serve the people of Ghana with my all. Under my tenure as Minister of Finance, I have overseen some great strides in the development of Ghana and the improvement of the lives of the Ghanaian people.”
He also acknowledged the pain and suffering of the Ghanaian public due to extreme economic hardships.
He apologised, saying, “every Finance Minister around the world may wish to say to the Ghanaian people now. I am truly sorry.”
The Minority in Parliament filed a motion for a vote of censure against Ken Ofori-Atta, making seven allegations against the minister, including conflict of interest, financial recklessness leading to the collapse of the Ghana Cedi and gross mismanagement of the economy.
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.