The Appointments Committee of Parliament will today, March 25, 2021, vet the Finance Minister-designate, Ken Ofori-Atta.

“The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation will cover the event live and provide feed to other media houses.”
Statement from Parliament

Mr. Ofori-Atta is the only remaining nominee on President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial list to Parliament, for vetting.

He has been battling with ill health. The Finance Minister-designate had to travel to the US to seek further medical care, following complications after recovering from COVID-19.

He spent about 30 days at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, USA, where he received specialized treatment for post COVID-19 complications.

This compelled the committee to postpone his vetting which was originally scheduled for March 8, 2021, indefinitely.

As a result, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minister of Legislative Affairs and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, delivered the government’s 2021 Budget statement.

He however returned to Ghana on Monday, March 22, 2021.

The Ministry had explained that he had to travel because the treatment facilities for his medical condition were not available in Ghana.

Likely issues to feature at the Vetting

The Appointments Committee is likely to ask Mr. Ofori-Atta about the controversial Agyapa royalty deal, as well as other economic concerns.

Moreover, President Akufo-Addo hinted of the possible return of the controversial Agyapa mineral royalties deal to Parliament during his SONA presentation.

The Agyapa Mineral Royalties Limited has been incorporated in Jersey to receive and manage royalties. However, the negotiation has come to a halt following public criticisms as a result of an assessment done by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

These contribution would have been from 16 gold mining leases over the next 15 years. In exchange, the firm would have listed on the London and Ghana Stock Exchanges later this year and raised at least $500 million. Four main areas, health, education, road infrastructure and housing would have benefitted from the income of the deal. The company wanted to raise some monies for the Government on the Ghana and London Stock exchanges.

Another issue that may apparently resurface includes the financial sector cleanup which took place under his first regime. The financial sector cleanup led to the collapse of some insolvent financial institutions.

Other issues likely to feature are those on Ghana’s increasing debt stock, the state of the cedi and revenue mobilization.