DDEP: Finance Minister Under Seizure in Parliament 

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta was virtually under seizure when he appeared before Members of Parliament (MPs) to brief them on Ghana’s Domestic Debt Exchange Programme last Thursday February 16, 2023.

The Minister’s seizure emanated from MPs from the Minority side, who opined that he should have tendered his resignation instead of trying to explain to them, what they termed “The inexplicable”

Second Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, first to fire the Sabro at the Minister stated “This Is the first time of sudi a briefing. We’ve been looking for him, and today we have gotten him”! he exclaimed.

The Minister had been summoned to appear before the House to make a statement on the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) to be implemented by the Government of the Republic of Ghana.

His appearance had been postponed from one date to another until he finally appeared before the House last Thursday.

It was against this background that the Minority seemed to vent their spleen on him for what they saw as his unwillingness to appear before them for explanation and elucidation on certain government policies. As a result, speaker after speaker from the Minority rather called for his immediate resignation.

The Minister whose presentation lasted for about an hour was not accorded the needed listening attention. For this reason, the Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin noted after the presentation: “I am not sure that most of you heard what the Minster said because you were engaged in personal conversations. It is not that the Minister was not loud. He indicated that the Ministers appearance was premised on Article 70(3) of the 1992 Constitution. “The statement was boring”! Remarked one MP from the Minority side.
The Minister started his presentation by quoting Psalm 105and this seemed not to have gone down well with MPs from the Minority side as they attacked him from the premises “I came in peace” he started his presentation.

After the front and back movement on the mode of the debate by Minority Leader and Deputy Majority Leader, the Speaker stepped in. “I think enough is enough. This is a statement on government policy and comments must be brief. I am given ordinary members 8 minutes and leaders 15minutes” he stated.

Hon. Isaac Adongo, MP for Bolgatanga Central who started for the Minority could not fathom how the Minister could quote the Bible, while taking away money for pensioners from them under the NPP’s matra of “Property acquiring Democracy While saying that the Minister had issues to explain regarding the Bank of Ghana, he told the Minister “Leave office, you won’t. The Minister should resign here and today”!

On his part, John Abdulai Jinapor, MP for Yapei/ Kusawgu, referring to the Ministers programme as toxic, opined that the minister’s action of taking away pensioners money was same as that of NAM 1. He argued that but for the speaker, the Minister would not have come to Parliament to brief members on this obvious DDEP. He charged the Minister to exempt these venerable pensioners from the Obnoxious DDEP, saying that problems don’t solve problem. Rather its solution that solve problems.

Hon. Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu stated that the day was saddest for him, because Ghana’s economy was at the verge of disaster and collapse.

While referring to the Minister’s opening remarks of Psalm 105 which enjoins all to rejoice, he also referred the minister of proverb 29:2, which states that “When the wicked rules the people mourns” he argued that if at the Minister is rejoicing, then the problems is bigger.

Hon. Okujeto Ablakwa was of the view that the president and the Minster were living in a different world all together, as they rejoiced as pensioner’s money was being taken away from them and are suffering. He could not phantom why the president could not invite the affected victims to talk to them in the face of all these hullabaloo.

Referring to the Minister’s dealing with the pensioners as Obnoxious, he maintained that it was no longer the case of “Boa me na me moa wo” but “Boa me na me insie wo” The outspoken MP commended the former Chief Justice, Sophia Akufo and the Police for their involvement in the picketing of pensioners

The Minister Will Never Be Forgiven – Eric Opoku

The last straw to break the camel’s back cane from Hon. Eric Opoku. MP for Asunafo South. “The Minister will never be forgiven for destroying the economy! There is forgiveness, but on judgment day, no one will be forgiven”! he exclaimed after speaker’s intervention. While arguing that the Minister should have resigned long ago, he maintained that it was because of his relationship with the president that he was still in Office.

Hon. Eric Opoku stated that whereas Ghana’s external debt stood at 120bn dollars, in Mahama’s time it had ballooned to over $575bn, with the four years of Nana- Bawumia era.

Meanwhile, they attribute all Ghana’s economic woes to external factors – COVID 19 and Russia Ukraine War. Debunking this, the outspoken MP argued that the Nana – Bawumia administration borrows for consumption as if the world is coming to an end, hence this ballooning in Ghana’s debt. He was of the view that for the political expedience the Minister was postponing debt. Also, if he was attributing all the countries problems to external factors them the problems will forever remain unsolved “Now everybody everywhere, is complaining” he exclaimed.

By S.O Ankamah