Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, has reacted to rumours that former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, would be given another position which is higher than his earlier portfolio.
Following the reshuffle that ousted him from office Wednesday, February 14, 2024, Ken Ofori-Atta is rumoured to become a senior advisor to the President on financial matters, a position considered by many to be bigger than the Finance minister.
But according to the NPP MP who led his colleagues to campaign for Ofori-Atta’s removal as a result of his poor performance, it would be a worry, should the former minister be given another appointment that places the ministry under him.
Speaking with Alfred Ocansey on Ghana Tonight Thursday, February 15, 2024, Mr. Appiah-Kubih noted that even though the reshuffle didn’t come as early as expected, it is better late than never.
“It would have been better if it had been adhered to earlier. We’ll take it as it is and thank the President for listening to us,” he said.
He explained that “I have not heard what you’re talking about (yet to be assigned financial advisor). But if it’s a position that would be superior to the Finance Ministry, I will be worried but I’m not sure that would be the case.”
The Asante Akyem North lawmaker indicated that the Ministry has always worked in collaboration with other departments and institutions and that’s what he would be looking out for, rather than an outfit that would still make the Finance ministry subservient to the supposed portfolio for Ofori-Atta.
“The Finance ministry, as I’ve seen it, has always worked independently of other ministries except that there is that collaboration between them, not the Finance ministry is subservient to any other ministry so I’m not too sure there will be another portfolio that will be bigger than the finance minister and that finance minister will submit to that newly created portfolio. I don’t believe that but if it happens like that, it will be unfortunate,” he noted.
According to him, “so as long as the Finance minister is not subjugated to the new portfolio, I have no problem with that because collaboration is what we need between ministries. Unless it becomes clear that the finance minister would have to work under the new portfolio then I would have problem.”
I don’t think Ofori-Atta was sacked for underperformance – Franklin Cudjoe
Reports that Ken Ofori-Atta would be named senior presidential advisor to the President on financial matters is further corroborated with a clarification that his new portfolio will see him also serve as the president’s special envoy on international investment on the capital markets.
Despite both members of the ruling NPP and opposition NDC in Parliament describing his performance as abysmal and demanded his removal, Ken Ofori-Atta was Ghana’s longest serving finance minister.
On October 25, 2022, some 80 NPP MPs demanded his resignation over the bad state of the economy, which was reiterated by the NDC parliamentary caucus in February 2023.
Their calls for resignation were, however, rejected by President Akufo-Addo, who, at the time, asked for parliament to wait until conversations with the IMF were over.
Akufo-Addo’s ministerial reshuffle will not make any impact on his gov’t – Kwadwo Mpiani
