The Majority Caucus in Parliament has agreed to President Akufo-Addo’s plea to allow Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, to stay in office till the IMF negotiation and presentation of the 2023 budget are done.
This comes after over 80 New Patriotic Party MPs called for the immediate dismissal of the finance minister and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.
According to them, the continuous stay of Ken Ofori-Atta in office was delaying the IMF bailout the country is seeking because the Minister has lost all credibility.
“If our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing, neither will we participate in any government business.” Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, spokesperson for the Majority caucus and MP for Asante-Akim North Constituency indicated.
According to a press statement released by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Minister of Finance will stay “until the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy in November 2022 and the subsequent passage of the Appropriation Bill after which time the demand will be acted upon.”
This was after the President engaged the majority MPs and came to a temporary agreement on the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has also filed a motion for a vote of censure against Ken Ofori-Atta.