Members of the Minority Caucus on the Appointments Committee of Parliament have opted out of the vetting process for the Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry.
Kofi Ahenkorah-Marfo, set to undergo vetting on July 2, has been the subject of this decision, as indicated in a press release signed by Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
The Minority cited ongoing economic challenges as their reason for abstaining from the vetting, emphasizing that current conditions make participation untenable.
They highlighted issues such as the relocation of international companies from Ghana, arguing that these circumstances call for government downsizing rather than expansion.
“We are again unable to support this nomination by President Akufo-Addo at this time because our country has gone through (and continues to go through) very difficult periods, including the crippling economic crisis, food insecurity, debt default as a result of excessive borrowing, corruption in government and wasteful and reckless expenditures.
“With ordinary Ghanaians going through excruciating hardships and businesses relocating from Ghana as a result of the high tax regime created by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, one would have expected the President to downsize his already large government. This would have sent a signal to the people that the President was mindful of the economic realities and was willing to do things differently to restore the needed confidence in the economy.”
They expressed disappointment that amid widespread hardship and business departures due to high taxes, President Akufo-Addo has not downsized his administration to reflect economic realities and restore public confidence.