Despite calls by a session of the general public and some Members of Parliament for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the President to sack the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, the youth wing of the party thinks his exemplary work in securing the International Monetary Fund must be commended.
Speaking through the National Youth Organiser, Mr. Salam Mohammed Mustapha, said Ofori-Atta must be praised for working around the clock to secure the deal in a short time which some Ghanaians thought was not possible
Mr. Salam Mohammed on behalf of the National Youth Wing made this disclosure when addressing the media to set the record straight on President Akufo-Addo and the NPP government achievements as compared to that of the opposition party.
According to Mr. Salam, the ongoing economic turmoil across the globe has impacted negatively on the country leading to an increase in the cost of living and its attendant difficulties.
“We have seen serious economic crises in Europe and even America for the first time in many years. In Africa, the story is similar to 29 African countries, currently before the IMF, negotiating for one program or the other.
“It is for these reasons that we believe that the attempts to put the blame of the economic difficulties on the Minister are uncalled for with no plausible justifications. At best, the finance minister deserves commendations for working tirelessly to secure this deal for Ghana”.
He emphasized that many of the countries negotiating for programs with the IMF have spent more than a year, some more than two years, yet they have yet to be given approval by the fund.
“Ken Ofori-Atta has used less than a year to get Ghana this deal, and that deserves applause, not chastisement.
“We still remember how some opposition members of parliament, notably, Clement Apaak and Isaac Adongo, were ferocious in their claims that Ken Ofori-Atta had massaged figures and presented them to the IMF, and for that matter, there was no way the international body would grant Ghana the US$3 Billion request.”
He pointed out that the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato-Forson, on several platforms said that Ghana was not going to be able to secure any deal with the IMF and that the earliest a semblance of a deal was going to be reached would be at the end of July or middle of August this year.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, are we in July or August? No! We are in May and have secured the deal, just as Ken Ofori-Atta predicted,” he stated.
The Youth Wing’s Mr. Salam pledged to stand behind the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
“We say ayekòo for the hard work you have put in to ensure Ghana bounces back on its feet and with this kind of work, we believe he deserves encouragement and not to be vilified.
