Damongo MP Samuel Abu Jinapor has praised the exceptional qualities of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta that make him the right man for the Finance Ministry.
Although the Minority in Parliament and a section of the public have argued that Mr Ofori-Atta has performed abysmally, the legislator, who doubles as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, believes the minister’s performance has been nothing short of outstanding.
He said this was evident when Mr Ofori-Atta was hauled before Parliament’s ad hoc committee to respond to some seven grounds of censure against him.
“Any objective-minded Ghanaian will know that he distinguished himself, that he acquitted himself, that he demonstrated beyond doubt that he is in full grace and full command of the Ghanaian economy.
“The measures he is putting in place are just as his party and government did from 2017, when we inherited an IMF economy, and all the macro-economic indicators were in disarray. We brought it back on track and took this country on growth and prosperity, and this Finance Minister is doing just that,” Mr Jinapor mounted a spirited defence.
He further lashed out at the Minority for championing a censure motion that was weak and of no substance.
“The grounds on which the minister is being censured must be well grounded…The first ground is weak, and the committee recognizes that, and it cannot be a ground on which the minister must be censured. Ground three confirms that the minister played no role in the illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts. Ground 5 was unconstitutional and could not even be maintained by the committee,” he argued.
He advised his colleague MPs to be mindful of censuring people to score political points, adding that it could happen to anybody in the near future.
“The decision we take on this motion must be well motivated because today it is Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, tomorrow it may be Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson. We must not do this for political expediency, for political scoring, because when that day arises, the principle will prevail, evidence will prevail, and facts will prevail. I will not support a censure when it is not well grounded,” he added.
Background
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 insisted the record inflation rate, depreciation of the cedi, excessive borrowing, reckless spending, and the failure to control fuel prices were clear indications that the Finance Minister was 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 was ill-intended and ultimately differed from their demands.
The committee, composed of eight members, with four from each side of the House, was 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 were committee co-chairs.
The Minority in Parliament stated the following as the basis for which Mr Ofori-Atta should be removed:
1. Despicable conflict of interest ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantages, particularly from Ghana’s debt overhang.
2. Unconstitutional withdrawals from the consolidated fund in blatant contravention of Article 178 of the 1992 constitution, supposedly for the construction of the President’s Cathedral.
3. Illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts in flagrant violation of Article 176 of the 1992 constitution.
4. Deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament.
5. Fiscal recklessness, leading to the crash of the Ghana cedi, which is currently the worst-performing currency in the world.
6. Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude, resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and an excruciating cost of living crisis.
7. Gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy, which has occasioned untoward and unprecedented hardship.