There seems to be some sort of tension brewing in the camp of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as two of its leading members are at each other’s throats.
Tempers seemed to have been high when the majority leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, expressed his disappointment regarding an alleged comment made by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu asserted that, Mr Otchere-Darko had accused him of instigating the calls by some members of his caucus for the removal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Denying the accusation, the fuming Suame MP stated that the statement made by Otchere-Darko was unfounded.
“From nowhere, we hear Gabby Otchere-Darko on his Asaase Radio accusing me of instigating what was happening, for what? What do I stand to gain from that?” Mr Osei-Kyei Mensah quizzed.
The majority leader in parliament, who was irritated by the alleged allegation, questioned Mr Otchere-Darko’s role in the current government.
“That Gabby Otchere-Darko, who does he think he is? I serve Akufo-Addo, and I serve the party as well as the government… when we talk about the government itself, what is your locus standi to be accusing me of being an instigator?”
Background
On Tuesday, October 25, 80 NPP MPs unhappy about the crippling economy called for the dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.
In response, President Akufo-Addo has asked that Mr Ofori-Atta be allowed to complete Ghana’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund for an economic recovery programme before he takes a decision on the matter. The group, after deliberation, succumbed to the President’s plea.
Meanwhile, the minority caucus in parliament, who jumped into calls for the dismissal of the minister, filed a censure motion against Ken Ofori–Atta.
However, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, referred the censure motion to an 8-member ad hoc committee to look into the matter.
The 8-member ad hoc committee, chaired by Adansi Asokwa MP, K.T. Hammond, and Bolgatanga East MP, Dominic Ayine, began its deliberations yesterday, November 15.
Source: The Independent Ghana