We Are Running A Democracy Not Family Dynasty; Subin MP Tells Prez

The Member of Parliament for Subin constituency, Eugene Boakye Antwi has risen against the President’s decision to keep his cousin the Finance Minister at post.

According to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislator, the country is practising a democratic system of government and not a Dynasty.

His outburst comes a day after the President met with 80 MPs who are seeking the dismissal of Ofori Atta and appealed to have him in office for the next 3 weeks to conclude a negotiation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout.

In an interview with Peace FM, Boakye Antwi affirmed his support for the President however, he noted that the abysmal performance of some of the President’s appointees will not augur well with NPP nor the country.

“I want Akufo-Addo to leave a legacy but with the way things are going, it seems some three or four people want to destroy that legacy. I will never allow it. We are running a democracy, not a family dynasty.”

“Ken Ofori Atta was appointed the Finance Minister. The country was in a difficult situation so he proposed E-levy. We all know how it went. He chose E-levy over the IMF. I quote him ‘We are not going to go to the IMF. The consequences are dire. We are a proud nation, we have the resources, and we have the capacity’.

“We managed to pass the E-levy for Ken Ofori Atta. Immediately after that, he decided we should go to the IMF because he couldn’t get the projected revenue from the E-levy. Is Ken Ofori Atta experimenting with this country?”, he asked.

He also relayed that efforts to have the Minister removed quietly failed, prompting their outburst on Tuesday.

He further affirmed the 80 MPs’ commitment to having him sacked.

Eighty members of the NPP lawmakers on Tuesday morning demanded the removal of the Finance Minister and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen over what they described as a downward trend in the growth of the economy.

“We have made our great concern to the President through the Parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without any positive response.

“We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the President change the Minister for Finance and the Minister of State in the Finance Ministry without further delays in order to restore hope to the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy”, MP for Asante Akim North Constituency, Andy Appiah Kubi, said on behalf of the 80 disgruntled MPs at a presser in Parliament.

According to the MPs, until the two resign or get sacked by the President, they won’t participate in any business of the government in the House, neither will they be part of the upcoming Budget hearing and its debate.

The public renouncement came after the National Organiser of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Henry Nana Boakye affirmed drastic changes must be made in order for the party to secure a second term.

In a Facebook post written in block letters on Sunday, Nana B said, “SOME DRASTIC DECISIONS MUST BE MADE ASAP. SOME DRASTIC CHANGES MUST BE MADE ASAP. SOME DRASTIC MEASURES NEEDED ASAP. BREAKING THE 8 IS A MUST”.

Similar calls have come from MP from the other side, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) as well.

In a statement on Monday, October 24, Ablakwa said Ofori Atta must immediately be sacked to remedy the economic downturn.

AFAG, however, called for his reassignment.

But the president has on different occasions disagreed with the suggestion to either sack or reshuffle any of his cabinet Ministers.

Last week while touring the Ashanti Region, President Akufo-Addo emphasised his disagreement with the calls to have his cousin deposed.

“I came to office in 2017 under a stringent IMF programme. This same man was able to manage the affairs of our economy in such a way that in my first term, we were one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

“An average growth rate of 7% which allowed us to initiate programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs. So somebody who has been able to do that. The current difficulties are not his fault. So how do I do it (sack him)? What will be the basis? What will be the rationale”, he is quoted as saying by JoyNews.

During a similar tour in August, the president assured the public he wasn’t in for a reshuffle citing his cabinet ministers’ “outstanding” performance.

“That is a matter that I will take in an appropriate way. Several of the people who are responsible for assisting me in steering the country out of the difficulty we inherited and the difficulties that have subsequently come are still in place. And many of them have done outstanding work. Their output has been considerable and that is what I look at.”

On Tuesday, October 25, the president met with the disgruntled MPs and pleaded to keep the Finance Minister in office until the country’s negotiations with the IMF are finalised.

He asked for three weeks, however, reports have it that the MPs were not moved by the plea.

Meanwhile, the Minority in parliament has filed a vote of censure against the Finance Minister seeking the support of the 80 MPs to impeach him.

Ghana is currently facing a soaring inflation rate, steep cedi depreciation and rising debt stock.

Last week, Ofori Atta called on the Ghanaian public to stay calm over the steep cedi depreciation.

“…It’s quite perplexing to see where it’s going, of course, typically in October, people are importing for Christmas and maybe there’s a rush for that (the dollar) but my expectation is that once we also conclude with the Fund (IMF), that will lead to the fund’s disbursement early next year to do that”, he said in an interview with Asaase radio.

He added, “The support we are getting from countries like Germany and France, we are confident that we will get the resources needed, so we really would want people to know not to panic or be rushing in order to put pressure on the currency, I think it’s unnecessary and we are in good shape”.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini