Telecast Sittings Of Committee Probing Allegations Against Ofori-Atta -Sam George
The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has suggested that sittings of the ad-hoc committee constituted to probe allegations made by the Minority against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to be televised.
The MP made the call on the floor of parliament after the Speaker, Alban Bagbin constituted an 8-member committee co-chaired by KT Hammond, Adansi-Asokwa MP, and Dominic Ayine, Bolgatanga East MP, on Thursday, November 10, 2022, to probe the allegations.
“I want to make a plea that the sittings of the committee be telecast live given the nature of the matter and be made public just like the Sputnik V committee in the spirit of transparency and accountability,” he said.
The committee which has 7 days to submit its report comprises Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Bernard Ahiafor on the Minority side and Patrick Yaw Boamah, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi and Andrew Agyapa Mercer from the Majority side.
Backround
The Minority in Parliament has filed a motion of censure against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and called on the Majority side to support.
They stated the following reasons 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.