A video circulating on social media has revealed how Finance Minister-designate, Mohammed Amin Adam was ‘unethically’ questioned by CNN’s Richard Quest about the anti-LGBT+ Bill recently passed by Ghana’s Parliament during an event in the United States.
Mr Quest asked for Amin Adam’s personal view on the bill, considering his roles as both a Member of Parliament and a senior government official.
Amin Adam responded by emphasizing the importance of discussing the effects of the bill when passed into law and stated that it is not his role to determine the outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision.
He reiterated that he would abide by the laws of Ghana if the Supreme Court rules on the case and President Akufo-Addo assents to it.
“The most important thing is to discuss the effects of the law when passed… Having said that, it is not for me to give the determination to the Supreme Court of our country.
“Let me state my point clearly again, there is a case before the Supreme Court and I am not going to prejudice the determination of the Supreme Court,”
However, Quest became visibly frustrated and raised his voice, demanding a ‘human answer’ regarding Amin Adam’s thoughts on the anti-LGBTQ bill.
He slammed his hand on the table, and his voice continued to grow louder.
After Hon. Amin Adam clearly stated that he would subject himself to the laws of his country, Richard Quest, a CNN journalist, lost his cool and raised his voice at Ghana's Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, demanding a 'human answer' regarding his thoughts on the… pic.twitter.com/9GuD5YFJzK
The Minister for Finance-designate, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, has affirmed the government’s commitment to achieving universal access to electricity by the end of the year.
This goal will be pursued through the use of mini-grids and smaller power generating systems to reach off-grid communities, with the country currently having achieved 88.85% access.
During a panel discussion on achieving rapid energy access, Dr. Amin emphasized the importance of deliberate and intentional policies and programs to rapidly expand energy access.
“Right from the 1990s, we were very intentional. The government decided that Ghana must achieve universal access to electricity and so we put in relevant policies and a national electrification scheme, we put in rural electrification programme, and we also put in a self-help electrification programme in which communities and the government shared the cost of electricity access.
In response to another question regarding pitfalls to avoid, the Minister emphasized the importance of procuring electricity generation through competitive bidding. He cautioned against procuring energy through unsolicited projects, which tend to be extremely expensive.
“It is important that when you are in crises, you do not acquire as many generating capacity as you would not need, because the tendency for investors to come knocking on your door and justify why you should acquire more is very high and you acquire it at a very high cost. “
In response to another question about attracting investors to the sector, the Minister discussed the energy sector reforms the government is undertaking.
These reforms aim to remove bottlenecks in the system and attract investors. They include tariff reforms, quarterly audits of the cash waterfall program, and the acquisition of one million new meters with the assistance of the World Bank to harmonize and standardize meters.
The panel discussion, a flagship program at the ongoing IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, focused on the theme “Energizing Africa: What will it take to achieve universal energy access?”
It delved into the strategies needed to scale up solutions and investments that will connect millions more Africans to electricity and transform African economies.
Other panelists included Asay Banga, President of the World Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, as well as ministers of state, energy investors, and stakeholders from both the government and private sectors.
The Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, is optimistic that Dr. Mohammed Amin will be able to lead the Finance Ministry due to his capabilities.
Dr. Mohammed Amin has been appointed Finance Minister-designate by President Akufo-Addo and will take over from Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
In an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr Adongo noted that Dr Mohammed Amin is competent to lead the running of the country’s economy.
“I do not doubt the competence and the abilities of Dr. Mohammed Amin. He was my former colleague on the Finance Committee, my senior at school. I have a very good respect for him,” he said.
He however described President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s removal of Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister as mere ‘window dressing.’
Mr Adongo explained that ‘window dressing’ refers to making something appear deceptively attractive or favorable.
President Akufo-Addo removed Ken Ofori-Atta in a major ministerial reshuffle on Wednesday, February 14, which affected a total of 13 current ministers of state, including 10 cabinet ministers and two regional ministers. Mohammed Amin Adam has been appointed as the new Finance Minister, while Ken Ofori-Atta has been made the Presidential Advisor on the economy.
Mr Adongo expressed doubt about the effectiveness of the reshuffle, suggesting that Mohammed Amin Adam might have limited influence as long as Ken Ofori-Atta remains involved and influential in economic matters.
“This is clearly window dressing. Because now he is the Minister and they have appointed the very person they are removing as the Senior Presidential Advisor on the Economy what that simply means is that for Mohammed Amin to get any policy through in cabinet or through executive approval of the president, the president has to go and consult Ken Ofori Atta. And so technically it means that Mohammed Amin cannot do anything if Ofori-Atta is not in agreement because he would advise the president against it,” he stated.
The Member of Parliament for Karaga Constituency in the Northern Region, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam is curious to know if there is a recommended number of ministers for a government in Ghana.
The Minister of State-designate for the Finance Ministry gave the retort when he asked on Tuesday if he thought the government needs a substantive Minister of Finance in this current economic crisis.
According to Dr Adam, no concrete number has been proposed as the ideal to guide the government in the appointment of ministers.
He explained that people have for years complained and asked government to reduce the number of its ministers but have never suggested the actual number government should appoint.
“Mr Chairman, I have heard over the last 20 years, people complain about the size of government and therefore, under every party in government, people have complained about the numbers.
“They complained about this under President Kufour, under President Mills, under President Mahama and today. What I haven’t heard is what the appropriate size of government should be”, he said.
Speaking before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting on Tuesday, the Karaga MP said downsizing of government is not that easy and explained that reducing the size of government is a subject that needs proper deliberation before actions can be taken.
“And so that is a subject we can debate. Even as they are calling for downsizing of government, we need to ask ourselves what is government. Government includes Parliament and I have heard other people say that the size of Parliament is huge.
“So we need to debate as to what the appropriate size should be. Should it be benched-marked to the size of our budget, or should it be benched-marked to the size of our population? So this is a subject we can continue to discuss to determine the appropriate size”, Dr Adam stressed.
Dr Adam said that ministers are appointed by the President in the best interest of the country.
He said until the nation comes to an agreement as to the ideal size of government “every President will take a decision that reflects what he thinks is best to be able to carry out the functions of the State.
Commenting on whether it was apt to have replication of ministers in the same sector, the Karaga MP said “I think we need to put this in proper perspective. Downsizing is relative. For example, the number of ministers President Akufo-Addo had in his First-term is not the same as today. So to that extent, there has been downsizing.
“……….. And so if we have to debate and agree as a country that let’s bench-mark the number of ministers we have in any government to the size of the budget or let’s bench-mark it to the size of the population of our country, that in my view will be more scientific and (an) appropriate means of determining what the size of government should be”.
