Akufo-Addo Appeals With Majority Caucus To Keep Ofori Atta Temporarily

Reports say the President has asked for Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta to remain at the post for a short while.

The plea was made by the president to the 80 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament demanding the dismissal of Ofori Atta.

At the Jubilee House last night when the President met with the disgruntled MPs who say their demand resonates with that of their constituents, the president said Ofori Atta’s dismissal now will interrupt the government’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with whom Ghana is seeking a bailout.

He, therefore, asked for the Minister to remain at the post for at least three weeks to conclude negotiations with the Fund.

But reports say that the legislators were unhappy with the President’s appeal.

On Tuesday, 80 members of the NPP side in Parliament openly renounced their support for the Minister as well as the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, over what they described as the downward trend in economic growth.

According to them, the President had failed to act on their demand after several petitions and, therefore, threatened to boycott the upcoming budget reading and its debate if the two failed to resign or get sacked.

In a related development, the Minority side in Parliament has filed a motion to censure the Minister and has challenged the 80 disgruntled MPs to join in impeaching Ofori Atta.

Motion Of Censor
According to Article 82 of the 1992 constitution, the motion will need not less than ⅔ votes from the MPs to make the removal of the Finance Minister possible.

The Motion will first be debated in Parliament within fourteen days after the Speaker of the House receives it.

In the course of the debate, the Minister is entitled to be heard in his defence.

Where a vote of censure is passed against the Minister the President may, unless the Minister resigns his office, revoke his appointment as a Minister.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini