The Majority Caucus in Parliament has agreed to the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s request that Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta be permitted to wrap up negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, or IMF.
According to an agreement made by the president and the legislators following a meeting late Tuesday, the embattled Minister will also be permitted to submit the government’s 2023 Budget Statement later this month.
According to a letter dated October 26 and signed by the majority leader and minister for parliamentary affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, calls for Ofori-dismissal Atta’s would be considered after these two incidents.
The statement also indicated that beyond the passage of the next budget, MPs will ensure that the attendant appropriation bill is also passed as part of the deal with Akufo-Addo.
The latest development confirms reports that the president had requested three weeks for the Finance Minister to conclude IMF talks after a group of 80 ruling party lawmakers called for the immediate removal of Ofori-Atta and another citing their role in the economic hardship that the country was facing.
STATEMENT BY THE MAJORITY CAUCUS IN PARLIAMENT
Following the Pres Conference held on Tuesday, 25th October, 2022 by some Members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament demanding the removal of Minister of Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Charles Adu Boahen from office, the President engaged Members of the Caucus and requested that the issue be stood down until the 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 today, Wednesday, 26th October, 2022, it was agreed to accede to the President’s appeal.