Former President John Dramani Mahama is bemused the assertion from government that the ousting of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will affect Ghana’s negotiations with the IMF and preparation of the 2023 budget.
According to Mr. Mahama, just as a budget is prepared by a team rather than an individual, it is same way the International Monetary Fund deals with nations and not individuals.
During his “Building the Ghana we Want” address to the nation at the University of Professional Studies-Accra (UPSA) Thursday, October 27, 2022, Mr. Mahama questioned the whereabout of the men the NPP claimed they have having had to going to the failed expertise of Mr. Ofori-Atta whose poor performance has plundered the nation into the worst economic downturn in Ghana’s history, necessitating a call for his dismissal from both the Majority and Minority caucuses.
The Former President avers the Mr. Akufo-Addo should not only sack the minister but take over the Economic Management Team himself.
“It is not fair for innocent people, investors, and business owners to lose their investments, when those who took the decisions and whose incompetence and mismanagement have brought us to this situation, are not only still at post, but are praised and protected by the President.
“The President must not only replace the finance minister, he must also reconstitute and take control of the Economic Management Team himself.
“I have noted the recent draft motion of censure by the Minority against the Minister and the recent rebellion of the Group of 95 Majority members calling for the removal of the Minister.
“I have also noted the statement by the Majority Leader of a compromise reached that the Minister will leave after he has completed the budget and IMF negotiations.
I think this is untenable.
“Budget preparation and IMF negotiations are the result of teamwork, not the work of one individual. I fail to see how the absence of the Minister will affect the preparation of the budget or the negotiations with the Fund,” he indicated.
Speaking further, John Mahama noted there are equally persons in the NPP who can take up the charge when Ken Ofori-Atta is no more.
“There surely must be persons with the requisite experience to carry on this work. Afterall what happened to the “We have the men” mantra?,” he quizzed.
By Felix Anim-Appau|Onuaonline.com
