The Finance Ministry, in a statement on October 5, 2021, has quashed the speculations on social media platforms, suggesting that the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has resigned.
The Finance Ministry dismissed the speculations, describing them as false. The statement noted that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta is engrossed in his assignment to deliver the better Ghana agenda that he promised Ghanaians. Therefore, there is “no truth in the rumours being speculated.”
The Ministry reassured the public that Ken Ofori-Atta has not resigned and will successfully complete his tenure as a Finance Minister.
“The Ministry wishes to assure the general public that there is no truth in these rumours. Mr Ken Ofori-Atta is at post and focused on his mandate, given to him by His Excellency the President, to serve the people of Ghana in his capacity as Finance Minister”.
Finance Ministry Statement
The communiqué concluded that, “The general public is advised to disregard these rumours”.
Earlier this year, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta was rushed to the USA for medical attention, in what the official narrative described as treatment for complications from an alleged COVID-19 infection.
Mr Ofori-Atta, subsequently returned for parliamentary vetting for his second bid as Minister after Nana Akufo-Addo retained power in the 2020 general elections.
Rumours about Finance Minister’s Health
A wave of speculations surrounding the health of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta hit the public and particularly, on social media. The speculations are that, Mr. Ofori-Atta may have undergone a liver transplant on his recent trip to the USA.
The recent issue about Ken Ofori-Atta’s health status was sparked by an unfamiliar picture of his bloated face as captured by cameras at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly. His cheeks swollen to twice its original size and his eyes were almost covered in pads of extra flesh on his face.
Ken Ofori-Atta’s Sudden Disappearance from the Scene
The Finance Minister, since the beginning of the year 2021, has kept low profile until the mid-year budget, where he came and read the budget on the floor of parliament and vanished again until his uncharacteristic looking pictures emerged.
It is unclear if the minister is experiencing any serious health challenges. But medical experts who have seen the photographs think that kind of sudden weight gain on his face is not normal. However, some speculations suggest the photograph trending the internet that shows his sudden weight gain on his face is not normal.
Hon Ken Ofori-Atta, assumed office as Ghana’s Finance Minister on January 27, 2017 and was maintained for the second term. He brings to the Ministry over 30 years’ of experience in Ghanaian and international financial sector.
He is also a Co-Founder and former Chairman of the Databank Group (an investment banking firm) in Ghana. He was the Executive Chairman from 1990 until his retirement on February 14, 2012.
Prior to co-founding Databank in 1990, the Hon Minister was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley and Salomon Brothers on Wall Street in New York. He has other business interests in Insurance, Retail Banking, Private Equity, Micro finance, Pharmaceuticals and Real Estate.
His enumerable experience and competency are the main reasons why many Ghanaians are concerned about his sudden disappearance from the scene. Thus, the statement from the Finance Ministry will allay the fears of many Ghanaians.
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