The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, delivered a special sermon in the Chamber on Thursday, November 27, 2025 during concluding remarks on the 2026 Budget.
The Bawku Central MP quoted a bible verse, Luke 19:1-10, comparing the story of Zacchaeus, who was a tax collector to former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta who he said was also a tax collector and supervised activities of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Mahama Ayariga referenced the bible story in Luke where Zacchaeus climbed a fig tree to see Jesus who was walking in a town but Jesus upon spotting Zacchaeus requested him to come down from the tree.
In that same vein, the Majority side demanded Ken Ofori-Atta to return to Ghana from the United States just as Jesus asked Zacchaeus to descend from a tree.
“After many years of being taught by Ken Ofori-Atta which we have learnt the Bible, today I refer him to Luke 19: 1-10. Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through, a man was there by the name of Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector. What was Ken Ofori-Atta? A chief tax collector.
“He was in charge of GRA and what do GRA do? They collect tax. So clearly, Zacchaeus in the bible resembles Ken Ofori-Atta. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and he was wealthy. A man who owns Databank, owns enterprise, is he not a wealthy man? Is there no resemblance between Zacchaeus and Ofori-Atta?” Ayariga stated.
He continued: “He wanted to see Jesus but because he was short, he could not see over the crowd so he run ahead and climbed a fig tree to see him since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up to him and said Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I say to Ken Ofori-Atta come back to Ghana immediately. Ofori-Atta, come back immediately.”
On Tuesday, November 18, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) formally charged former Minister for Finance, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta and 7 others with 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences.
The alleged corruption-related offences relates to a ‘botch, reckless and illegal’ deal between the Ghana Revenue Authority and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).
Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng has disclosed that the OSP will recover GH₵125 million from Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML). This amount, he said, represents an unjust enrichment the company obtained “unfairly at the expense of the Republic.”
The Majority caucus insisted that Ken Ofori-Atta must return to face accountability just like Zacchaeus did when he promised to pay back in four folds, the monies he cheated from the people.
“Mr. Speaker, the people said he (Jesus) has gone to be the guest of a sinner (Zacchaeus) but Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, look Lord here and now I give half of my possession to the poor and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times amount.
“Ken Ofori-Atta come back. If you have not cheated anybody, come back. And when you come and we determine that you have cheated, you have to pay four times,” Ayariga said on the floor of the House.
“Mr. Speaker, and Jesus said to Zacchaeus today, salvation has come to this House because this man too is a son of Abraham. Ken Ofori-Atta too is a son of Ghana so he should return home,” he added.
