Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has urged the minority caucus in parliament to remain resolute in its calls for the removal of finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to him, his side must not withdraw the motion for a vote of censure on “disastrous Ken Ofori Atta” despite the statement from the NPP Caucus. He questioned why “disastrous Ken” will be allowed to present a 2023 Budget and negotiate an IMF program he wouldn’t be around to implement.
Mr Ablakwa stated that the finance minister’s stay in office cannot be fair to his successor.
“The NDC Parliamentary Caucus must not withdraw the motion for a vote of censure on disastrous Ken Ofori Atta despite the statement from the NPP Caucus. Why should Ghana be held to ransom by one man?”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Citing reasons for the minority’s pursuit for the finance minister’s removal, Mr Ablakwa indicated that Ghanaians must bear in mind that IMF negotiations can take a very long time as replicated in many countries such as Argentina, Greece to Zambia and numerous analysts don’t expect a Ghana-IMF agreement this year.
“Another important consideration is that many Ghanaians cannot trust President Akufo-Addo to dismiss his cousin seeing that he has consistently preferred to put familial benefits above the national interest.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Minority urges NPP legislators to remain resolute
Contained in a facebook post, the North Tongu legislator urged the opposition “NPP aisle to remain steadfast” with the Ghanaian people and remember all their constituents have been demanding. He further entreated the Majority MPs to support the minority’s motion in the ultimate national interest.
“Every single day disastrous Ken and dangerous Charles remain in office, they cause more damage to lives and livelihoods. This is not the time for selfish survival deals for one family; it is the time to put Ghana first and expeditiously fix the collapsed economy for millions of struggling families.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Subsequently, Mr Ablakwa insisted that the “noose is tightening” around Mr Ofori-Atta’s neck as the Right Honourable Speaker, Alban Bagbin, has admitted the minority’s Censure Motion and issued notice of same in today’s Order Paper. He highlighted that the countdown for a secret vote on November 10, 2022, begins.
Mr Ablakwa’s comment followed a statement by Majority Caucus in Parliament, in which the majority leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, agreed to stand down on its demand for the immediate resignation of the Minister for Finance and Charles Adu Boahen, the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, pending the completion of ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and presentation of the 2023 budget to Parliament.
It will be recalled that President Akufo-Addo, at an emergency meeting with leaders and members of the NPP Majority Caucus in Parliament on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, expressed regret on the approach taken by about 80 majority MPs in calling for the removal the finance minister.
At the meeting, both sides ended their discussions with a deeper understanding of each other’s standpoint. President Akufo-Addo, in a passionate plea, stated that the MPs who sought the removal of the two men should have come to him directly on the matter.
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