The embattled Minister of Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori Atta has apologized to Ghanaians for the current economic challenges in the country. Appearing upon the invitation of Parliament’s Ad hoc committee probing a censure motion against him, Mr. Ofori Atta said, “Let me use this opportunity to tell the Ghanaian people what I believe every Finance Minister around the world may wish to say to their people now, I am truly sorry”.
“Today, I acknowledged our economy is facing difficulties and the people of Ghana enduring hardships; as a person, President Akufo-Addo has put in charge of this economy – I feel the pain personally, professionally and in my soul. I see and feel the terrible impact of rising prices of goods and services on the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Ghanaians, I feel the stress of running a business.
He continued, “But it is the strength and perseverance of the Ghanaian people that inspire me and my colleagues in government every morning.”
He noted, “When we set out in 2017 and the early parts of 2020, we never imagined that a global pandemic such as Covid with its prolonged economic fallout will inflict such pain and suffering upon the Ghanaian people, the shock to our system has been hard and the impact to our livelihood severe”.
However, the Finance Minister indicated, “But we have not been resting on our odds, we continue to work to keep the lights on, to avoid the queues at our filling stations as in other countries – our classrooms are full, our hospitals and dispensaries mostly stocked with medicines, we continue to pay salaries and our roads continue to be built and fixed”.
Background
The Minority in Parliament filed a motion for a vote of censure against Ken Ofori-Atta making seven allegations against the minister including conflict of interest, financial recklessness leading to the collapse of the Ghana Cedi and gross mismanagement of the economy.
