Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has refuted reports that NDC MPs on the Ken Ofori-Atta Vote of Censure Committee were paid sitting allowance.
Mr Ablakwa is a member of the ad hoc committee set up by Speaker Alban Bagbin to investigate the allegations made by the Minority in Parliament against the minister.
According to a Facebook post he made on Thursday, the NDC MPs on the committee worked for free because they prioritise Ghana in their endeavours.
“It’s been a patriotic duty. Ignore baseless claims that our side took sitting allowances; we served pro bono,” he wrote.
Other NDC MPs that served on the committee are the MP for Bolga East, Dominic Ayine, who was co-chair, Korle Klottey MP, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings and Emmanuel Ahiaku, the MP for Okaikoi North.
The NPP MPs who were on the committee are Adansi-Asokwa legislator, Kobina Tahir Hammond, who is also a co-chair, Okaikwei Central MP, Yaw Boamah, Asante-Akim Central legislator, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, and Sekondi MP, Egyapa Mercer.
Parliament on Thursday debated the censure motion moved against the minister.
This comes after the ad hoc committee interrogated the minister, some institutions, and minority MPs; and subsequently filed its report to the House.
The vote of censure against Mr Ofori-Atta is pursuant to Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution.
According to the Minority, the Finance Minister lacks the ability to steer the affairs of the economy, thus should be replaced.
Prior to the Minority’s censure motion, some NPP MPs called on the President to relieve the minister of his duties.
They later suspended their request after President Akfuo-Addo asked that Mr Ofori-Atta be made to complete Ghana’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and present the 2023 budget statement, before he possibly resigned.
The minister presented the 2023 budget statement to Parliament, on November 24, but is yet to conclude engagements with the IMF.
Although the censure motion in parliament has been dismissed, many await the president’s response following the minority’s vote of no confidence in the Finance Minister.
Source: The Independent Ghana