A former Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah, has pleaded with the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) to allow the Minister for Finance Ken Ofori-Atta to present the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of government to Parliament hopefully on Thursday.
The plea of the former MP for New Juaben South followed the declared resolve by some lawmakers from the majority side that they would not allow Mr. Ofori-Atta to present the budget statement as they called for the minister’s exit from office.
The agitated MPs also threatened to boycott anything that has to do with Mr. Ofori-Atta if he does not resign or he is removed from office.
However, Dr. Assibey-Yeboah has called for cool heads and tolerance that are necessary to stabilise the struggling economy.
“The country is in an era of economic crisis where world economies are in a recession. We cannot afford to risk a decision that would disturb our economy. Even the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament gave Ken Ofori-Atta his right to be heard at the Committee. At least they tolerated him and agreed to disagree but still they worked with him at the Committee so I find it a bit unusual if not unfortunate that some members from our side would still insist they do not want to see even his shadows at the Plenary at the threshold of the Budget statement.
“This cannot be the best of ways to build a democracy or be a fitting member of any group. You have made your demand on what you want to happen to the appointee, the appointor has accepted your demand and both parties have agreed on the roadmap to that specific demand. That roadmap has been told to the general public and there is clam. It is just fair that the agreement is adhered to and we all play our parts in sincerity in the larger interest of the Group, the Party and Government.
“We are told the date for the Budget statement is long overdue. It would be economically suicidal to risk any further avoidable delay. Let the man present the Budget. The signals we are picking are disturbingly worrying and must be addressed in direct and candid language that by reason of the sensitive and difficult economic situation we are experiencing as a country and its global nature, it would be prudent for us to cooperate with and fully support Ken Ofori-Atta to, at least, present the Budget and Policy statement as well as see to the successful passage of the Appropriation Bill in our collective, rather than individual interests.
“In all honesty, I believe that no matter how noble the intentions of the persons calling for Ofori-Atta’s sack may be, the same noble intentions if sought after in a haste as it seems to be the case now, could end in a waste and turn out to be destructive rather than constructive”, Dr. Assibey-Yeboah noted in short interaction with journalists on Saturday.
He noted that the sudden dismissal from office of Charles Adu Boahen as Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, just last week has created a vacuum hitherto occupied by an experienced hand with critical institutional memory.
Dr. Assibey-Yeboah pointed out that pushing aside Ofori-Atta even before the Budget statement, even though may in the short term satisfy the demands of the Majority side, it will certainly not a deeply thought-through administrative strategy.
According to him, the loss of Charles Adu Boahen is a big blow to the Ministry of Finance and that the President will need some time to reorganise the place.
The Minority group has filed a motion of censure for the removal of Mr. Ofori-Atta ahead of the presentation of the 2023 Budget statement.
Consequently, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban Bagbin set up an 8-member ad-hoc Committee to probe some seven allegations against the Minister of Finance that may warrant his removal from office.
However, Mr. Ofori-Atta dismissed all the allegations as unfounded and the committee is yet to submit its report to the plenary.
