After closing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa voiced great displeasure at Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s extended stay.
Following Ghana’s economic crisis, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta came under increased criticism from members of Parliament’s Majority Caucus, who urged his immediate resignation from office.
President Akufo-Addo, on the other hand, intervened, pushing the caucus to postpone their demand until vital discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were completed.
Months after the IMF agreement was completed, the President has yet to act on the majority caucus’s demand.
The MP for North Tongu indicated during the discussion on the Mid-Year Budget Review given to Parliament that President Akufo-Addo cannot be trusted to follow his promise.
“This Finance Minster has run out of ideas, totally mismanaged the economy, and given us the worst economic climate in our history and he should not be the one presenting budget statements, I must state for the record that this House is not oblivious of the fact the crisis we are in is self-inflicted and created by President Akufo-Addo and Bawumia.
“The president told us that the Finance Minster will leave after the IMF programme but the president has refused to show him the exit and that is very disappointing.”
He also criticised the Finance Minister for failing to remove sanitary pad fees from the mid-year budget review.
“Ghanaian women had agitated strongly that this mid-year review should abolish taxes on sanitary pads and it is an embarrassment that such a gross human rights issue did not receive attention from the Finance Minister.”
