Dr. Cassiel Ato-Forson with the Minority in Parliament, has stated that it will initiate steps to ensure that a bi-partisan probe is conducted into the galamsey report presented by Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader claimed that the minority side in the House will work in the interest of Ghanaians on this issue.
This comes on the back of calls by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for both Parliament and the Office of the Special Prosecutor to initiate a public enquiry into Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s damning galamsey report, which implicates some officials of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Dr. Ato Forson spoke to the media and said the Minority supports the call for the probe.
“This House has been urged by a vast majority of our citizens to institute a bi-partisan probe into this serious matter. We, the Minority support this call and shall take steps accordingly to trigger the necessary processes for an independent probe into this matter. So in the coming days, don’t be surprised if you hear the NDC Minority starting a process to constitute an independent probe into Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s report.”
Cassiel Ato Forson
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, former chairman of the new defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), authored a report on illegal mining (galamsey) activities in 2021 and subsequently submitted it to the Chief of Staff. The report as authored by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, accused some government officials of interfering in his work or engaged in galamsey. The report was subsequently leaked into the public domain in April 2023.
However, several persons indicted in the report have rejected the allegations.
Ato-Forson Claims Ghana Will Not Get An IMF Deal By End Of May
The Minority Leader avers that Ghana would not reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by end of May as predicted by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
In his view, the earliest Ghana can close the deal is July-August.
“You notice that Ghana is still struggling to get an IMF programme, the President came to Parliament to promise us that he is going to get us a deal by March, I said that it is not going to happen, March is gone, April is gone, we are now in May. I can confirm to you that it is not going to happen by end of May, it is not going to happen, I will urge our Minister responsible for Finance, to be truthful to the people of Ghana and be candid enough to say that yes, the timelines that we have, we said A,B and C but we cannot make it. The earliest is beginning 3rd Quarter, July-August , that is the earliest.”
Cassiel Ato Forson
It is recalled that the Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta said the government expected the Fund’s board approval of the deal by May this year. He told the investors on the sidelines of the ongoing IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. USA on Thursday, April 13 that “We do at this time expect an IMF board approval in May and contemplate a rapid negotiation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with our creditors. We have made significant efforts on all fronts.”
The Finance Minister further assured the investors that the government had taken a number of steps to ensure that the challenges with the nation’s finances are tackled. He told the investors on the sidelines of the ongoing IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. USA that the country is undergoing debt restructuring as part of efforts to secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“Ghana has done a number of things, first of all with regards to the Paris Club, we did travel to China, we sought support from India and the Saudis and really maintained open relations with the Club. We did get to the Club to let them know that we were worried about the track record of the common framework, we have had a good relationship, we really commend the Paris Club for the sense of urgency that they have and we are confident that they will be able to bring the assurances to the Bank in the coming week.”
Ken Ofori-Atta
Ken Ofori-Atta also indicated that Government intends to deepen the relationship with its external creditors. “We reaffirm our commitment to work with our private and commercial creditors in all of our engagements,” he stressed.
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