Ablakwa: Budget Or No Budget, Ofori Atta’s Impeachment Goes On

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says Parliament will proceed with the Censure vote against finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta.

This comes after the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu announced that the budget reading will be delayed.

On Thursday, Kyei Mensah said the presentation of the Budget Statement and the Economic Policy- which was to constitutionally take place on November 15- may be postponed due to the government’s failure to conclude the ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary fund (IMF) as scheduled.

According to him, there is a need to factor the conclusions of the negotiation in the budget, thereby the need to postpone it.

But Ablakwa believes Ofori Atta, whose days are numbered in the office, is trying to use illegal means to delay the budget reading to prolong his stay in office.

“Ken Ofori-Atta can choose to illegally delay the Budget presentation to Parliament for as long as he wishes but that won’t save him. In any case, all his previous 6 Budgets have brought doom and damnation.”

On Tuesday, October 25, about 80 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament demanded the dismissal or resignation of the Finance Minister as well as the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen over what they described as a downturn in economic growth.

The disgruntled MPs threatened to boycott the government’s businesses and the budget reading if their demand was not acted upon by the President.

But following a meeting with the President on Tuesday evening, the MPs reportedly acceded to Akufo-Addo’s plea to keep the Minister at the post till he completed the negotiations he started with the International Monetary Fund (IMF); read the budget; and passed the Appropriation Bill.

Meanwhile, the Minority In Parliament has filed a motion to impeach the Minister citing a conflict of interest in the conduct of his mandate; unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund; illegal payment of oil revenue into offshore accounts; deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament; fiscal recklessness; and incompetence for the motion.

In a social media post, Ablakwa said the delay in the budget reading will not hinder Parliament from proceeding with the pending censure vote against Ofori Atta.

“Budget or no Budget, we’re going ahead with the Censure Vote.”

A secret vote is expected to be cast by Parliament over the Minister on November 10.

Meanwhile calls for Ofori Atta to get sacked continue to intensify as traders vent out at the rising cost of living in the country.

In an interview with JoyNews, some traders at Suame magazine added their voices to the call pointing out the rising cost of fuel and transportation which is having a toll on the standard of living.

“He {Ken Ofori Atta} must be sacked. We are plunged into poverty. Over here sales have declined. The prices of goods have skyrocketed. We thought the country was going to get better when the NPP came to power. Compared to them, the NDC was better”, a woman said.

“His brother has held the position for six years now. He {Akufo-Addo} should sack him {Ken Ofori Atta} because he is not doing well. The country doesn’t belong to their family,” a man told JoyNew.

“In case we assign you to supervise our finance and we later realise you are not performing well and you are unable to account to us we have to sack you. Everyone is complaining about the economic hardship. Before coming into power, they assured us that the country is endowed with resources but they are the worst managers,” another said.

Another added, “the Minister has done his best. It’s time for him to go. We need fresh ideas.”

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini