The embattled Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has apologised to Ghanaians for the increasingly worsening state of the Ghanaian economy.
Mr. Ofori-Atta who is currently before the censure motion ad hoc committee, said that government did not anticipate that some global factors such as COVID will affect the Ghanaian economy the way it has.
“Co-Chairs let me use this opportunity to say to the Ghanaian people what I believe that with courage every finance Minister in the World may wish to say to their people now. I am truly sorry. When we set out so purposefully between 2017 and the early parts of 2020 we never imagined that a global pandemic such as COVID with its prolonged economic fallouts will inflict such pain and suffering upon the Ghanaian people.”
Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance
The Finance Minister acknowledged that Ghana’s “economy is facing difficulties and the people of Ghana are enduring hardships.” Ofori-Atta claimed that he feels the impact of the economy “personally, professionally and in [his] soul.”
“I see and feel the terrible impact of rising prices of goods and services on the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Ghanaians. I feel the stress of owning a business,” he said.
Ofori-Atta claimed that it was the strength of Ghanaians that has inspired him to hold the fort till date.
“[It is] the strength and perseverance of the Ghanaian people that inspire me and my colleagues in government every morning to press on. That is what gives me the strength to press on, to find solution and relief for Ghanaians to the myriad of problems that our country and the rest of the World are facing especially since March 2020.”
Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance
The Finance Minister mentioned that despite the economic challenges the country has been plunged in, government has been working assiduously to ensure that Ghana is not lagging behind in development.
“The shock to our system has been hard and the impact to our livelihoods severe. But we have not been resting on our oars, we continue to work to keep the lights on, to avoid the queues at our filling stations as in other countries, our classrooms are full, our hospitals and dispensaries mostly stocked with medicine. We continue to pay salaries and our roads continue to be built and fixed.”
Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance
Ofori-Atta Assures Forthrightness in His Submission
The Finance Minister said that he was going to be totally honest with Ghanaians in his submission. “During the cause of my remarks this morning, you can expect forthrightness,” he said.
Mr. Ofori-Atta said that even though the proponents of the motion have claimed that he has mismanaged the economy, he was certain that his presentation at the committee will dispel the bad impression people have formed of him.
“The proponents’ motion of censure has accused me of many things and includes some very disparaging remarks and attacks on my person and integrity. I’m certain that Ghanaians will have a more balanced view of the events that led us here as I take the opportunity to speak to the matters so raised.
“My principal reflections today, are to ensure that by the end of this proceedings, the truth would’ve taken centre stage and in the process many unfounded doubts about my motives, my competence, my character would’ve been dispelled”
Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance
Meanwhile, Dr. Dominic Ayine, Co-chair of the ad hoc committee, declared that two of the accusations on which the censure motion was moved has been struck out.
This means that, Ken Ofori-Atta will be expected to answer questions on five of the grounds on which the motion was moved instead of the original seven.
Even though he was grateful to the committee for interrogating the initial seven grounds and eventually striking out two, he expressed disappointment in the fact that he would’ve been made to answer questions on things he had not done.
“[It is] unfortunate that in the Co-Chairs submission of the two grounds that have been struck out, it sounds to me like there was not a thoroughly review of the grounds as it should have been. To bring somebody for a censure will require that these things are done with absolute thoroughness.”
Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance
The two accusations that have been struck out is Ground 1 and Ground 3.
Ground 1 sought to accuse Mr. Ofori-Atta of despicable conflict of interest. That Ken Ofori-Atta, directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes because his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantage, particularly from Ghana’s debt overhang.
Ground 3 alleged that Ofori-Atta paid illegal oil revenues into offshore accounts in violation of Article 176 of the 1992 constitution.
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