Listen to your caucus and let Ofori-Atta go – ACEPA Boss tells Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dakwa Akufo-Addo must listen to the concerns raised by lawmakers from his own party, against the Finance Minister and let him resign, the Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr Rahseed Draman has said.

Some members of the Majority group in Parliament held a press conference and called for the removal of the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry Charles Adu Boahen due to the economic challenges.

But they have agreed to a plea by the President to allow the Finance Minister stay in office to conclude the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Speaking on this matter on the New Day show with Johnnie Hughes on TV3 Monday November 7, Dr Draman indicated that due to the budget reading, if the Finance Minister goes, it will create a problem and if he continues to stay, it also creates another problem.

But he believed that the cost will be less if Mr Ofori-Atta leaves.

“The president should listen to his caucus and the minister should do the honorable. The budget is going to be read, If he goes there is problem, if he doesn’t there is problem but the cost will be less if he does go,” he said.

Dr Draman further said the Minority in Parliament cannot run away from blame over the cause of the economic hardships which have been placed at the door step of Mr Ofori-Atta.

He said when the Minority had the opportunity to reject the Finance Minister during the vetting at the appointments committee, some of them ended up voting in support of their nomination.

His comments come at a time the opposition MPs in Parliament have filed a motion to get the Finance Minister removed from office due to the economic failings.

This was after some New Patriotic Party (NPP) also held a press conference asking the President to sack the Finance Minister.

Speaking on this matter on the New Day show with Johnnie Hughes on Monday November 7, Dr Dramani said ”Parliament cannot avoid the share of the blame especially the Minority.

“They failed the test of holding the government to account by going to the appointment committee to scrutinize but when it came to the vote we realized that some of them voted for them.

“Having realized they have made a mistake they are eating humble pie to say this minister must go.”

Source: 3news.com|Ghana