President Akufo-Addo has urged the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to provide the leadership needed to foster economic growth in the country.
According to the President, Ghanaians re-elected his government particularly because of their competence to deliver on their word. Therefore, achievements by the government will be void if the impact is not felt by the Ghanaian people.
His Excellency the President further advised Mr. Ofori-Atta to introduce measures that will increase the real wages of workers. This, he explains, forms part of the real changes Ghanaians are looking out for.
“Indeed, you have your work cut out for you, even though our economy despite the pandemic, was [one] of the few in the world that recorded positive GDP growth in 2020. Ultimately, what the people of Ghana are expecting is a visible improvement in their standard of living; that’s an increase in the real wages for working people and enhancement of the income of farmers and fisherfolk and a rise of profits for businesses.
“So talk of good macro and economic management; fiscal responsibility in GDP growth has to reflect that goal if the talk is to be meaningful. So, [as] I indicated to your colleague ministers, the Ghanaian people have given us four more years to do more for them… I urge you to provide leadership that will ensure that the work on which we have embarked [on] benefits the progress of why they voted for us.”
President Akufo-Addo commends Parliament
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has commended Parliament for approving Ken Ofori Atta as the Finance Minister. This, he revealed, is telling of Parliament’s commitment to preceding the welfare of the Ghanaian above all else.
President Akufo Addo further lauded Ken Ofori Atta for being first minister to go through the vetting process “for two consecutive days at the committee hearings”.
“I commend Parliament for the by-partisan consensual manner in which it approved Ken Ofori-Atta. The welfare of Ghanaian remains the paramount consideration of public policy”.
Appointment of finance minister sparks criticism
Prior to his appointment, the approval of Ken Ofori Atta sparked some reaction among some section of the public. Isaac Adongo, MP for Bolgatanga Central lamented the appointment of the Finance Minister by describing him as his “fiercest critic”
According to him, he has so many doubts about the President’s nominee for the Finance Ministry.
Furthermore, Mr. Isaac Adongo described as disappointing the reasons behind the minority’s approval of Ken Ofori-Atta as the Finance Minister.
He further averred that the approval will not prevent him from exposing the Minister’s incompetence in managing the economy.
The Alliance for Social Equity and Accountability (ASEPA) described the approval of the Finance Minister as “regrettable”.
According to the Executive Director for ASEPA, Ken Thompson, Mr. Ofori Atta’s responses to questions posed during the vetting were not satisfactory.
The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), however, tasked its party members and party executive members to be circumspect in their statements following the approval of Ken Ofori-Atta.
