Ken Ofori-Atta Left Ghana with Permission, Will Return – Afenyo-Markin

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has assured Parliament that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will return to Ghana and is willing to cooperate with authorities.

“He left the country with permission. He will return. And if there is anything that requires investigation, he will make himself available,” Afenyo-Markin stated.

He further disclosed that he had an extensive conversation with Ofori-Atta, who is deeply affected by the accusations and labels attributed to him. “He’s traumatized by the labeling and the adjectives used to describe him. But he still knows that his God is with him,” he added.

Earlier, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga issued an unqualified apology to Ken Ofori-Atta following a controversial raid on his private residence by a joint police-military team led by national security operatives.

The raid, which occurred on February 11, saw armed security personnel storm Ofori-Atta’s residence without a warrant. The former minister was not present at the time, as he had traveled abroad for medical treatment.

Addressing the incident in Parliament on Thursday, February 13, Ayariga revealed that he had engaged with key government officials, including the Ministers of Interior and Defence, who assured him that such an incident would not happen again.

“As a country and as a Parliament, we have a constitution to uphold, and that constitution guarantees fundamental human rights, including the right to privacy and the integrity of one’s property,” Ayariga emphasized.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding constitutional rights under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama and reassured both Parliament and the public that the rule of law remains a priority.

“I extend my apologies to the former Minister of Finance, and I believe this should suffice,” he stated.

In response, Afenyo-Markin praised the Majority Leader’s apology and called for greater decency and respect in Ghana’s political discourse. He commended efforts made behind the scenes to address the incident and emphasized the importance of unity among politicians in safeguarding democracy.

“Indeed, all that he has done demonstrates sincerity. We are a political class; that is the path we have chosen. We are not to cover crime, but we must protect each other for the good of democracy,” Afenyo-Markin stated.

He urged lawmakers to adopt a more constructive and respectful approach to national discourse.

“Let’s conduct our politics in a decent manner. Let’s respect each other. Let’s use complimentary words. If someone is making a mistake, approach them and say, ‘You could do it better.’ If someone does well, let’s celebrate them,” he advised.

Source: GhanaNewsOnline