”Even Your Own Party Members Want You Out Over Economic Hardships” – Ato Forson to Ofori Atta
A ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee has made a passionate appeal for Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta to step down due to unbearable economic hardship.
Cassiel Ato Forson, a proponent of the motion of vote of censure against the sector minister, said that even the ordinary waakye seller and his own party members want the minister out of office.
“I am a firm believer that all that we are going through as a country is self-inflicted. It could have been avoided. Mr Chairman, today, what Ghana needs most is what we call Confidence. The market wants confidence, businessmen want confidence. In fact, the International market wants confidence.
“I think the time has come for the Minister to step aside. It doesn’t mean he hasn’t contributed his quota towards the running of the country. He has, but the time has come for him to give the country an opportunity to recover. I want to plead with him that even the waakye seller wants him to go. His own party people want him to go.
“They may not be able to say it. So, please, when you’re confronted with a situation like that where everybody wants you to go, you go. We, in the Minority, have laid our grounds, the grounds are technical, and they are grounded in evidence,” Dr Ato Forson said at the first hearing of Parliament’s ad-hoc Committee.
It will be recalled that on October 25, 2022, the Minority in Parliament filed a censure motion against the Finance Minister in compliance with Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
The Minority explained that the decision was based on the “alarming incompetence resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy” and some ethical breaches.
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu insists the record inflation rate, depreciation of the cedi, excessive borrowing, reckless spending, and the failure to control fuel prices are clear indications that the Finance Minister is not fit to continue in his role.
Although the majority had earlier declared its support, it made a u-turn, claiming the Minority’s motive for removing Ofori-Atta is ill-intended and ultimately differs from their demands.
The committee, composed of eight members, with four from each side of the House, is expected to submit its report for consideration within seven days.
NDC Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, Dominic Ayine, and NPP MP for Adansi-Asokwa KT Hammond are co-chairing the committee.