To start the process of removing Ken Ofori-Atta as minister of finance, the minority in parliament has submitted a motion.
A vote of censure against Ofori-Atta has been initiated by the NDC MPs after collecting at least 100 signatures from its members. The resolution would use Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution, which lays out the criteria for dismissing a minister or deputy if it were approved by Speaker of the House Alban Bagbin. For the procedure to start, the Minority required at least 92 signatories.
After a similar removal procedure was initiated against the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Ofori-Atta would be the second minister of the state against whom such action might be taken against the Minority.
The country’s choice to turn to the International Monetary Fund for a bailout prompted the Minority to call for the ouster of the Minister of Finance in recent times. Even if economic indicators were getting worse, Ofori-Atta had declared that the nation would not seek assistance from the Fund.
We will not visit the IMF, he declared. We are not, no matter what we do. There will be terrible repercussions, but we are a proud country with the ability and the necessary resources. Although we are not blind, we must advance. Therefore, let’s consider ourselves to be strong, proud people who are the shining star of Africa. If we speak the same language and make sure to share the load of the difficulties ahead, we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.
The Minority contends that the Finance Minister loses all legitimacy to hold onto his position as Ghana consults with the IMF on its economy as a result of this u-turn.
