At 5pm today, Tuesday, November 22, 2022, the Council of Elders and leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will meet the Majority caucus in Parliament.
The meeting according to OnuaOnline’s sources is to discuss the legislators demand for the ousting of Finance Minister, Kenneth Ofori-Atta, warranting the caucuses’ threat to boycott the 2023 budget reading should he be allowed to present the statement in Parliament.
The budget presentation was suspended following the controversy over the Finance Minister’s dismissal and resignation demands by the Majority, coupled with the Minority’s motion of censure all seeking to get the man out.
The Budget, which has subsequently been slated for Thursday, November 24, is facing agitations on whom to present even though the last one was presented by the Majority Leader and Suame MP, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, when the Finance Minister was in abroad seeking healthcare.
Parliament is yet to determine the fate of the minister after an 8-member ad hoc committee sat for some findings pertaining to the charges levelled against him by the Minority.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has insisted since the 98 Majority MPs made their call, that his cousin the Finance Minister stays to complete the IMF negotiations which he (Ken Ofori-Atta) is entitled to a 9% commission by virtue of his institution, Databank, being a financial advisor to the state on each loan taken.
Databank has been taking 9% of all government bonds and many believe the President wants his cousin to cash in the last $180 million (that is if Ghana gets $2b from the IMF) before “deciding on whether he should be sacked or not.”
Source: Onuaonline.com|Ghana
