President Akufo-Addo is urged by Subin MP to address the fate of the Finance Minister following the IMF deal.
Eugene Boakye Antwi, the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Subin constituency, has stressed the need for President Akufo-Addo to decide what will happen to Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta after the completion of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal.
Mr. Antwi emphasized that the President alone has the authority to fire the Finance Minister, and that the MPs’ responsibility is to draw attention to the Minister’s failings and make the case for his ouster.
The 98 New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs who previously demanded Ofori-Atta’s dismissal in 2022, according to Antwi, are currently seeking guidance from the Akufo-Addo.
He stated that they were hoping to meet with the President or the Majority Leader to talk about the next steps.
Antwi made it clear that, as a member of parliament, he has the power to point out any shortcomings but not to fire the Finance Minister.
98 NPP MPs called for Ken Ofori-Atta’s urgent dismissal in November 2022, citing his economic mismanagement.
They wrote to President Akufo-Addo and petitioned him, threatening to boycott parliament if their demands were not satisfied.
But following a conference, they consented to the President’s request to let Ofori-Atta and Minister of State Charles Adu Boahen continue in their positions until the end of the IMF negotiations.
Mr. Antwi highlighted that inquiries about Ofori-Atta’s future should be addressed to the President as the IMF bailout for Ghana has already been approved.
He emphasized their adherence to the President’s policies as well as his reservations regarding Ofori-Atta’s potential influence on the results of the approaching election.
When questioned about a prospective replacement, Antwi rejected the idea that someone needed to have experience beforehand, pointing out that everyone picks up skills on the job and experiences are gained by involvement in real-world activities.
“As far as we are concerned, we have shown the entire nation and the entire globe that this is our decision or challenge with Ken Ofori-Atta’s continuous presence. We are waiting for the Majority Leader to call a meeting or for the president to call a meeting with the majority caucus to outline the next steps, according to Mr. Antwi.
“We stood with the president, and we played our part,” he continued. We showed him that Ken’s continued employment in the Finance Ministry would not be good for the country’s electoral prospects the following year, and we have continued to hammer that point home.