President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has requested that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta be allowed to conclude negotiations with IMF and the presentation of the 2023 Budget Statement, before consideration on his removal from office.
The President made this call during a meeting with the Majority Caucus in Parliament, following some Members’ demand to sack Mr. Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen.
A statement issued later on Wednesday, and signed by the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, indicated that the Majority Caucus has acceded to the President’s appeal.
“Following the press conference held on Tuesday, 25thOctober, 2022 by some members the Majority Caucus in Parliament demanding the removal of the two ministers, the President engaged Members of the Caucus and requested that the issue be stood down until conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy in November, 2022 and the subsequent passage of the Appropriation Bill after which time the demand shall be acted upon.
After deliberations among the Majority Caucus on9Wednesday, 26th October, 2022, it was agreed to accede to the President’s appeal.
On Tuesday, MPs from both the Majority and Minority caucuses in different engagements with the media in Parliament, called for the removal of the Finance Minister to save the economy from further deteriorating.
Addressing the press corps, Andy KwameAppiah Kubi, Asante-Akim North Constituency, who represented some 80 members of the Majority group who signed the petition, stated that the group will not be part ofany parliamentary business and the 2023 budget, if the President fails to honour their request.
