The Minority Chief Whip in Parliament, Hon Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has said that should the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta insist on staying after the vote of censure, it will be considered a sign of disrespect to the general public.
According to him, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta cannot continue to be allowed to manage the economy. He noted that it is time someone else takes over the mantle and fix the problem Ghanaians are currently facing.
Speaking in an interview, Hon Muntaka who is very optimistic the vote of censure expected to take place Today, November 10, will lead to the exit of the Finance Minister said, he is counting on the votes of dissenting members of the Majority caucus to see their action come to completion.
“You cannot continue to drive a car when you have burst the tyre, you have broken the engine, you have smashed the screen, you have smashed a lot of things; you were reckless with not making sure there was water to keep cooling the car, then all of a sudden you say that oh, give me another opportunity, I’ll fix all the problem.
“It is better to let go, let another person take over, so that the person will be able to fix the problems. Insisting to stay, for us, is like a mark of disrespect to the public.”
Muntaka Mubarak
The lawmaker noted that, while Members of the Majority caucus have been urged not to vote against the Finance Minister, he is confident the use of the secret ballot will allow them the freedom to express their will without fear or favour.
“And for us in the Minority we believe that we need to carry on and push as hard as we can with hope that our colleagues opposite, yes people might have spoken to you, but one advantage you have in the constitution, and I believe that the framers of our constitution were very certain that when it comes to removing somebody from office or putting somebody in office, the best way to do it is through secret ballot.”
“I am confident we were never able to elect a Speaker from the opposite, we were able to do it through secret ballot, I’m very confident tomorrow we’ll make another history by using secret ballot to remove a sitting Minister.”
Mubarak
Majority Cautioned Against Vote Of Censure
Meanwhile, Members of Parliament in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) majority caucus have been asked to abstain from the vote of censure against the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to a statement released by the party yesterday, November 9, the leadership of the Majority Caucus especially the Whips are to ensure that no Member of the Majority Caucus partakes in this exercise by the Minority Group in Parliament
The NPP stated in the statement, “while the National Executive body acknowledges the prevailing socio-economic conditions in the country and the need for urgent remedial interventions, it is our utmost position that the demand of the NDC-led Minority Caucus is ill-intended and aimed at derailing government’s efforts at resolving current socio-economic upheavals.”
“Accordingly, neither the NPP nor its Members of Parliament will lend support to this mischievous move by the NDC legislators as it is one of their many ill-motivated and self-serving but unpatriotic moves to sabotage the NPP government and frustrate the administration of the country.”
Justin Kodua
The NDC lawmakers are starting a process in Parliament today 10th November, to remove Ofori-Atta from office due to the current economic challenges.
Under the constitution of Ghana, once a vote of censure is passed against a minister the President may revoke his appointment if he does not resign.
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