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Eugene Boakye Antwi, the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Subin constituency, has highlighted the importance of President Akufo-Addo deciding the future of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta following the conclusion of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal.
During an interview on Joy FM, Mr. Antwi clarified that the power to dismiss the Finance Minister lies solely with the President, while the role of the MPs is to bring attention to the Minister’s shortcomings and advocate for his removal from office.
Antwi mentioned that the 98 MPs from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who previously called for Ofori-Atta’s dismissal in 2022 are awaiting direction from the President. They expect to meet with the Majority Leader or the President to discuss the next steps.
Antwi clarified that as an MP, he does not possess the authority to remove the Finance Minister; instead, his responsibility is to expose any failings. In November 2022, 98 NPP MPs demanded Ken Ofori-Atta’s immediate removal because of concerns about economic mismanagement. They petitioned President Akufo-Addo and threatened a parliamentary boycott if their demands were unmet. However, after a meeting, they agreed to the President’s request to allow Ofori-Atta and Minister of State Charles Adu Boahen to remain in office until the conclusion of the IMF negotiations.
Now that Ghana’s IMF bailout has been approved, Mr. Antwi stressed that inquiries about Ofori-Atta’s future should be directed to the President. He emphasized their support for the President and was concerned about Ofori-Atta’s potential impact on electoral prospects in the upcoming year.
When asked about a potential successor, Antwi dismissed requiring prior experience, highlighting that everyone learns on the job and gains experience through practical engagement.
“We have made it clear to the entire country and the world that we have reservations about Ken Ofori-Atta’s continued stay. We are waiting for the Majority Leader to convene a meeting or for the President to gather the majority caucus and provide us with the way forward,” stated Mr. Antwi.
He added, “We have stood by the President and fulfilled our role. We have shown him that Ken’s continued presence at the Finance Ministry will not bode well for our electoral prospects next year, and we will continue to emphasize that point.”
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Source: Omanghana.com
