Mahama Ayariga, newly appointed Majority Leader, has vowed to wield the ruling party’s significant parliamentary majority with responsibility and inclusivity.
In his acceptance speech, Ayariga emphasized the need for consensus-building and unity in Parliament, reiterating President John Dramani Mahama’s assurance that the majority’s overwhelming numbers would not be misused ¹.
Ayariga declared, “As President John Dramani Mahama has said, these overwhelming numbers will not be abused.”
He committed to advancing democracy, national unity, and equitable development across the country, while upholding principles of probity and accountability.
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Ayariga expressed optimism in Parliament’s ability to overcome obstacles through constructive dialogue and mutual respect.
“The road ahead will not be without challenges, but I am confident that together…we can overcome any obstacles and deliver on our collective vision,” he concluded.
Majority caucus in Parliament has defended the Chief Justice’s recommendation to increase the number of Justices on the Supreme Court bench, asserting that no illegality was committed.
In a press briefing at Parliament House on Monday, July 8, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin stated that the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s suggestion was justified given the overwhelming number of cases pending before the apex court.
“The Chief Justice has not done anything illegal, immoral nor unconstitutional in respect of her recommendation for the need to increase the number of justices at the Supreme Court,” he said.
In a letter addressed to the President, the Chief Justice recommended the appointment of Justices Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, Cyra Pamela Koranteng, Eric Kyei Baffour, Edward Amoako Asante, and Angelina Mensah Homiah, all currently serving on the Court of Appeal, to the Supreme Court bench.
She argued that this expansion would help the court manage the large number of pending cases.
Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, speaking at Parliament House on Monday, July 8, stated that the Chief Justice’s proposal to increase the number of Supreme Court justices to 20 was aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of justice delivery.
He countered claims that the Chief Justice lacked the authority to make such a proposal, citing Article 125(4) of the Constitution, which grants the Chief Justice inherent powers as the head of the Judiciary to make such recommendations.
“The Chief Justice shall subject to this constitution, be head of the judiciary, and shall be responsible for the administration and supervision of the judiciary,” he quoted article 125 (5).
“When somebody is in charge of the management of a body, he is able to determine how to run the place efficiently and what will make the work of that institution to be properly done and to make proposals within the context of the law,” he said.
Touching on what the law says on the composition of the Supreme Court, Mr Afenyo-Markin quoted Article 128 (1) of the Constitution which provides that “The Supreme Court shall consist of the Chief Justice and not less than nine other Justices of the Supreme Court.”
He argued that the framers of the Constitution, in their wisdom, gave a minimum sealing in anticipation that there could be the possibility in the future to increase the number of Justices at the apex that.
“That is why they did not provide for upper sealing; so, if you read this and juxtapose against article 125 (4) clearly you cannot argue that any increase in the number of judges at the Supreme Court above 10 is unconstitutional or that the CJ is wrong in making such suggestion or proposal,” he said.
The Majority Leader addressed critiques surrounding the Chief Justice’s proposal, emphasizing that critics overlooked the detailed justification provided in her analysis. He clarified that the Chief Justice did not simply forward a proposal without substantiation but presented compelling arguments to support it.
Regarding consultations, he noted that the Ghana Bar Association and other stakeholders were consulted, with the Bar Association expressing agreement in principle to the proposal to expand the court.
On the timing of the appointment, Mr. Afenyo-Markin stressed that the Judiciary, entrusted with the constitutional duty to administer justice, operates independently of the country’s electoral schedule.
“The impression these critics try to create is that all that the Supreme Court does is to determine political cases but I can tell on authority that the political cases that go to the SC may not even be up to two per cent of the cases that they deal with.
“So, the narrow path taken by these critics to create the impression about the timing of the proposal is neither here nor there. In any event, to what use or benefit will it be to the President to pack the court or do last minute appointments,” he said.
Of all the current judges at the Supreme Court, the Leader said there were two justices – Justice Paul Baffoe Bonney and Justice Gabriel Pwamang – who were not appointed by the President.
“As astute politician as the President is known to be, I do not think that he will want to trigger a debate in the public domain to poison the atmosphere. He will not do that,” he said.
The Majority Caucus in Parliament issued a strong response to the events in the House on March 20, 2024, where Speaker Alban Bagbin made a formal statement regarding a recent letter from the presidency before adjourning the House indefinitely.
In a statement dated March 20, 2024, the Caucus criticized Bagbin for unilaterally adjourning the House, asserting that this action undermines the government.
The listed business before the House that had to be suspended due to Bagbin’s decision included tax waivers, paper presentations, bill considerations, unresolved IDA facilities, and the approval of ministerial candidates.
“Point 10 of their 13-point statement read: “The decision of Mr Speaker to adjourn the House without recourse to its members, especially the Leadership, is most arbitrary, capricious and undemocratic. The settled practice has always been that the Leadership of the House guide the Chair to conduct the Business of the House.”
“The consequences are clear that the economy will suffer and government business will be undermined because of the pleasure of one man,” point-11 read.
The Majority also accused the Minority of supporting the Speaker due to their excessive desire for power fueled by animosity towards the government.
The Majority Caucus in Parliament has strongly criticized former President John Mahama for his comments on President Akufo-Addo’s Agenda 111 project, labelling his remarks as “disingenuous” and “inconsistent.”
Mahama had described the project as overly ambitious and unrealistic, particularly questioning the decision to increase the number of hospitals from 80 to 111.
Mahama, who is the flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), expressed concerns that many of the Agenda 111 projects might remain unfinished by the end of Akufo-Addo’s term.
He suggested that the government should have focused on completing a smaller number of hospitals first before expanding the project.
“This government started their Agenda 111 as they call it and they started with 80 hospitals”.
“I don’t know what survey was done before the hospitals were being put in, but most of them are at a certain stage of completion.
“One would have thought that they would start with what they can do and finish.”
“And, so, if you can do 40 hospitals, finish and open them, then you start another. But you spread to 80 hospitals, the time they leave office, I don’t think many of them would have been completed,”Mr Mahama said.
Dr. Ayew Afriyie, chairman of the Health Committee in Parliament and a member of the Majority Caucus, rebuked Mahama’s comments, highlighting that they indirectly undermine the NDC’s own manifesto promises.
He argued that expanding healthcare infrastructure, as outlined in Agenda 111, is crucial for achieving universal health coverage and ensuring equitable access to healthcare across all districts.
Afriyie pointed out that over 50% of the Agenda 111 hospitals have exceeded 60% completion, countering Mahama’s assertions about the project’s feasibility.
He also mentioned that during the NDC’s tenure, only six hospitals were completed, emphasising the government’s commitment to fulfilling its healthcare objectives.
The Majority Caucus reiterated its support for Agenda 111, emphasising the importance of providing modern healthcare facilities to every district in Ghana.
They criticised Mahama for what they perceive as inconsistency and urged political leaders to remain steadfast in fulfilling their manifesto promises.
“If you said you were going to build 88 hospitals and the NPP says it will do 111 hospitals, what is wrong with that? The former president is being disingenuous, he has been inconsistent and Ghanaians don’t have short memories as he has always said. We are clear on the principle that every district must have a hospital for universal health coverage and to be able to attain it, there must be access for all and there must be equity.
According to him, “Over 50 per cent of Agenda 111 hospitals have past 60 per cent completion and under the NDC, they were able to complete 6 hospitals.”
The planned reshuffle of the Majority leadership in Parliament has been temporarily suspended to allow President Akuffo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership to consult with the Majority Caucus.
This decision, made in light of the delicate legal framework of the new Standing Orders of Parliament, emphasizes the need to align leadership changes with established legal procedures.
Originally set to be disclosed on Monday, the reshuffle was a prominent agenda item in the National Executive Committee and National Council meetings at the Alisa Hotel in Accra. The current Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, is expected to be succeeded by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, with potential changes in other key positions.
However, a meeting with the President on Monday led to the decision to temporarily halt the reshuffle. The President and the party’s leadership plan to consult with the parliamentary caucus before implementing any changes, aligning with the legal provisions under Order 6 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
Sources suggest that a meeting is being planned for Wednesday or Tuesday, aiming to discuss the proposed changes with the Majority caucus and ensure their support and agreement. This consultative approach is rooted in the legal provisions, particularly Order 6, giving the Majority Caucus the authority to designate the Majority Leader.
The involvement of the caucus in the reshuffle process reflects a commitment to democratic principles, considering the legal and procedural nuances involved.
The recent revision of Standing Orders has shifted the authority to the Majority and Minority Caucuses, departing from the traditional role of the party’s National Council.
“It’s a move indicative of a broader commitment to uphold democratic principles within the party’s decision-making processes,” one source told CitiNews. “This approach not only aligns with the procedural requirements set out in the Standing Orders of Parliament but also resonates with the ethos of inclusive and lawful governance,” the source added.
The legal framework for this process is based on provisions in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Standing Orders of Parliament, and the NPP Constitution.
The Standing Orders, especially Order 6, redefine the “Majority Leader” as designated by the Majority Caucus, highlighting the Caucus’s role in selecting its leader.
While potential constitutional inconsistencies exist between party constitutions and parliamentary procedures, legal experts suggest that amendments to the NPP Constitution could provide a long-term solution. Aligning Article 10 with the new Standing Orders would streamline the process of selecting parliamentary leadership, ensuring legal conformity and party coherence.
The Majority Caucus in the Parliament of Ghana has announced a reshuffle in the leadership of its selected and standing committees.
Notable figures such as the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, and the MP for Lambussie, Yelviel Baligi Bakye, have assumed leadership roles in various committees.
The updated list of the Majority Caucus leadership was shared by the MP for Nsawam Adoagyiri and Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
The new leadership includes MPs such as Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, Isaac Kwame Asiamah, Alfred Obeng Boateng, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, Dickson Adomako Kissi, Eugene Boakye Antwi, Samuel Ericson Abakah, Kwaku Agyenim-Boateng, Bennam John Jabaah, Patrick Boamah, Nelson Kyeremeh, Farouk Umar Aliu Mahama, Patricia Appiagyei, and Charles Acheampong.
Majority Caucus Shakeup: Adowa Saafo, Obeng Boateng, and Others Assume Leadership Roles in Committees
The Minority group has expressed concerns regarding the current format of the GNPC-Genser energy deal, stating that it appears to favor other players in the industry.
They are therefore advocating for transparency in gas pricing practices within the nation.
Led by former Deputy Energy Minister and Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Caucus has called for a comprehensive reassessment of the agreement.
They base their call for a review on various factors, including their apprehensions that “the agreement combines the Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) and the Gas Transmission Agreement (GTA), which does not ensure transparency in the pricing of gas.”
Highlighting their concerns, the Minority pointed out the shift of the agreement from Ghana Gas to GNPC, despite Ghana Gas being designated as the gas transmission utility.
Additionally, they raised questions about the discount granted to Genser by GNPC for the gas transmission agreement, without clear explanations on how this discount would be recovered.
The Minority has reiterated their commitment to thoroughly scrutinizing the deal to ensure that it provides value for money. They aim to unravel any potential flaws within the agreement, emphasizing that the energy security of Ghana’s future lies at the core of their concerns.
The GNPC-Genser energy deal entails the supply of 50 million standard cubic feet of raw gas daily to Genser Energy.
The Minority in Parliament has issued a stern warning to the Majority Caucus, stating that they should not expect any cooperation from the group in light of the ongoing prosecution of Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson.
The Court of Appeal recently dismissed an application from Gyakye Quayson’s legal team, who sought to overturn the High Court’s decision to subject the legislator to daily trials.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, expressed his concern that this ruling undermines a constitutional provision stating that a Member of Parliament cannot be absent for more than fifteen sittings without valid reason.
He emphasized that as long as the prosecution of Gyakye Quayson continues, the Minority will withhold cooperation with the Majority on any matters within the House.
“Since they have escalated the persecution of James Gyakye Quayson, they should not expect cooperation from us, and we will not announce our strategy going forward, but what we can say is that all options are on the table, and they should not expect cooperation from us. I won’t go into the details but let them be assured that amidst persecution, cooperation will suffer and that is the position of the Minority.”
“Let Ghanaians be aware that the NPP doesn’t have the moral right to talk about patriotism because if you are patriotic you will not abandon Parliament and use state resources to be campaigning as the Vice President is doing. So let the public be aware that, it is not the NDC members of Parliament who do not want to do government business, but it is the NPP members.”
In response to the Majority caucus’s allegations of sabotage against the Minority in Parliament, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the MP for South Dayi, has strongly retaliated.
During an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Friday, the NDC MP expressed his views and urged the Majority Caucus to refrain from engaging in hypocrisy.
This development occurred following the third instance where Parliament was compelled to suspend its sessions without addressing vital matters outlined in the order paper, including significant government affairs.
The forced adjournments have been due to the Minority’s boycott of the House to attend court in solidarity with the Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson who’s facing a criminal trial.
The Majority on the back of this accused the Minority side of trying to sabotage the House.
But Mr Dafeamekpor says that is not the case. He explained that members of the opposite side were equally not present in the House to transact government business.
“Please cut the hypocrisy, you have over two-thirds of your members following the Vice President in touring the Ashanti region, that is why they are not in the chamber, but you are rather concerned about Minority members who are solidarising with our colleague, Quayson in court, Minority Leader in court, Collins Dauda in court. That is what bothers you; but your people following the Vice President around campaigning doesn’t bother you?” he asked.
According to him, article 97(1) is very clear as to the grounds upon which a member can leave parliament, and that they are simply exercising that right.
“Is it not the government that is persecuting our members in court? So, nobody in government should be crying for us withdrawing consensus in Parliament,” he added.
Additionally, he reiterated that the Minority will persist in their decision to boycott parliamentary proceedings whenever a member of their party is scheduled to appear before a court.
Supporters of Bawumia have thronged the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) headquarters in Asylum Down as he files his nomination forms today, Friday June 16, 2023.
Key party officials, including former Vice Chairman Fred Oware and former National Organiser Sammy Awuku, collected the forms on behalf of Dr Bawumia earlier last month.
Alan Kyerematen, one of the key contenders, submitted his forms on Monday.
Over the past few months, Dr Bawumia has engaged in extensive consultations regarding his aspiration to contest for the NPP’s flagbearer position.
He held meetings with theMajority Caucus in Parliament, the Party’s Council of Elders, as well as various traditional and religious leaders to announce his intentions to lead the NPP after President Akufo-Addo’s tenure in 2025.
The NPP leadership opened nominations for the Presidential Primaries on May 26, 2023, and the process will close on June 24, 2023.
Currently, ten presidential aspirants, including Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Kennedy Agyapong, Joe Ghartey, and Kwabena Adjei Agyapong, have picked up nomination forms to compete for the NPP’s flagbearer position.
The NPP plans to hold a Special Delegates Congress on August 26, 2023, to select the top five presidential aspirants.
These top five candidates will then compete on December 4, 2023, to secure the party’s flagbearer slot and subsequently lead the party in the 2024 general elections.
The majority chief whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has stated that the vice president Dr Mahamadu Bawumia has called for support from theNew Patriotic Party(NPP) members of parliament (MPs) ahead of elections.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh described the action of the vice president as a respect for the NPP lawmakers.
He expressed the appreciation on behalf of the Majority to Dr Bawumia.
For & on behalf of the Majority Caucus, I wish to express our profound gratitude for the numerous support and particularly your wonderful show of respect to us by your decision to seek for our blessings as you decide to lead our great party towards the 2024 General elections.. pic.twitter.com/FgRWoku6f0
— Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh (@FAnnohDompreh) May 3, 2023
In a tweet, the Nsawam Adoagyiri Lawmaker said “For and on behalf of the Majority Caucus, I wish to express our profound gratitude for the numerous support and particularly your wonderful show of respect to us by your decision to seek for our blessings as you decide to lead our great party towards the 2024 General elections.”
Mr Annoh-Dompreh earlier said that Dr Bawumia was the man for the job.
In a tweet ahead of the Dr Bawumia’s address at the Harvard University, he said “(He) is the man for the job.”
TheMember of Parliament(MP) for Nanton, Mohammed Hardi Tufeiru, has revealed how he got engaged in an accident before appearing in Parliament.
According to the MP, he left Parliament to see his daughter, who was admitted to the International Maritime Hospital, because he could no longer get in touch with his wife, who was at the hospital.
At the hospital, he received calls from the leadership of the Majority Caucus, where he was told that he was needed in the House because the Minority Caucus was asking for a headcount for the approval of the taxes the government was introducing.
Hardi Tufeiru, who made these remarks in an interview on Citi FM on Monday, monitored by GhanaWeb, added that the accident happened because he was driving at top speed to get to the House in time.
“I was calling, trying to reach (my wife), but I couldn’t get her on phone. But by then, we were also on suspension in Parliament, so I did some calculations to take 45 minutes to go (and see my daughter) and come back to continue with parliamentary work.
“So, upon reaching the hospital, I started receiving calls that the minority had challenged the voice vote and that we needed to take the second option, which was headcount, and that I was needed in the chamber,” he narrated.
The MP, who is also the deputy minister for food and agriculture, said that he was almost at Parliament when the accident occurred because he was driving at top speed and lost control of his vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle that Mohamed Hardi Tuferu, the member ofparliamentfor Nanton, struck on Friday night, has given details of what happened.
The man, who gave his name as Kwabena told Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday that the incident occurred at 9:00pm on Ghana Institute of Journalism road, from the Absa clubhouse.
“I work in Accra. I had closed from work and was on my way home. I normally use the GIJ route towards the Flagstaff house. Around 9:00 pm that faithful evening, I was on my way home as usual. When I got to the Absa clubhouse junction which is a T-junction. The MP was coming from the SDA church [side], and I was making a left turn to join the Independence Avenue road. Before I realised, the MP’s car ran into mine. He hit my passenger side. Witnesses can testify that the MP was speeding.”
“I was a bit unconscious for a while. I struggled before I was able to come out. Within a few minutes, I heard voices, that was how I regained consciousness. By the time I was up, I was told he had been rushed out of the scene. A police officer, who said he was from Parliament later came and gave me the MP’s number and said I could call. After that, a couple took me to the hospital.”
Kwabena further described the severity of the accident.
“My car is beyond repair. The impact was great. I do not know what he was speeding for. I believe it is God that saved me. If not that I managed to open my door, I would have been trapped in the car.”
The Member of Parliament for Nanton was involved in an accident ahead of a crucial vote on the government’s revenue bills currently being considered by Parliament.
The MP who is a member of the Majority Caucus was however sent to Parliament via an ambulance to report to the leadership of the House and later sent to the hospital.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, Kobina Tahir Hammond, has lamented the enmity between MPs from the Majority Caucusand the Minority Caucus.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, March 2, 2023, K.T. Hammond said that deliberations in Parliament now always end in fights, with both sides of the House failing to compromise their stands in the nation’s interest.
He used himself as an example, saying that two weeks after his vetting to become the Minister for Trade and Industry, members of the Minority Caucus were still insisting they would not approve him.
“…This House, Mr Speaker, is disintegrating! It is. Mr. Speaker, there is so much shouting; there is so much animosity, no room for tolerance in this House. We have not been used to this.
“People get upset because these tantrums are thrown all over the place, and Mr. Speaker, the whole place breaks down into insanity; it isn’t right, Mr. Speaker.
“…Let us try and introduce some sanity in the House; Sometimes I sit here, and I get completely distressed… and now, Mr. Speaker, I have been vetted; almost two weeks, I am sitting here. They say they won’t approve me, so I am sitting here. Look at all of this; can you imagine?” he said.
The Trade and Industry Minister-designate made these remarks while reacting to a clash between the Deputy Majority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin and the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, over the former’s description of the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
He urged the Deputy Minority Leader to withdraw his comment about Afenyo-Markin rising to fame by twisting peoples’ words.
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, provided a second explanation for the party’s decision to change the composition of its parliamentary leadership.
Having earlier defended the decision to ring the changes amid the backlash from some Members of Parliament, the former party General Secretary revealed at a party gathering in London that a key reason was lack of cooperation between the outgone leadership and Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament.
He explained that there was no need to fight to elect a Speaker from the party yet turn round and be giving the Speaker problems at a time even the Majority Caucus maintained a cordial relationship with him.
What Asiedu Nketiah said:
“My priorities in Parliament, is to see our parliamentary caucus working together and also cooperating with the Speaker of Parliament.
“Why did we struggle to get an NDC person elected as the Speaker of Parliament? There are certainly some advantages and those advantages can be tapped into when your leadership is cooperating with the Speaker,” the National Chairman stated.
He continued: “So we cannot have a situation where the NPP leadership is cooperating with the Speaker while our leadership the NDC have challenges in cooperating with the Speaker.
“If you are given a party whose leadership in Parliament is not working together what will you do? You make the changes or you resign and I am not ready to resign.”
Asiedu Nketiah was addressing the NDC UK/Ireland Chapter during a visit to London where he accompanied former president John Dramani Mahama for a public lecture engagement at Chatham House.
General Mosquito as he is referred to, also stated that the party held consultations contrary to the view out there, but that it was the national executives who eventually took the decision because they are clothed with the capacity so to do.
Bagbin appoints Asiedu Nketiah to PSB
Asiedu Nketiah is a member of the Parliamentary Service Board (PSB), a position that he assumed when Bagbin became speaker.
Speaker Bagbin has routinely gotten into heated exchanges especially with Member of Parliament for Asawase Mohammed Mubarak-Muntaka, who incidentally was very influential in the processes that led to the election of Bagbin into office on the morning of January 7, 2021.
Bagbin had cause to ‘threaten’ Muntaka in November 2022 when they clashed over the procedure Bagbin wanted to adopt in a Censorship Motion brought by the Minority against Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Muntaka during proceedings on November 11 vehemently disagreed with Bagbin’s decision to refer the censorship motion to a committee, interrupting him a number of times much to Bagbin’s chagrin
“Mr. Speaker, I come to second the motion with the clear indication that any attempt to move this matter to a committee will be a travesty of justice done to the chamber of this House.
Then the Speaker retorted again: “Hon. Members, I direct that all that the Minority Chief Whip has said after I have told him to withdraw and apologize, be expunged from the records. I so direct. Hansard expunge everything from the record.
“Minority Chief Whip, you’ll have a difficulty in catching my eye again,” reference to getting to speak again during the session.
A meeting between President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and members of the Majority Caucus has been rejected by Central Member of Parliament Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi in response to demands for the resignation of Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta.
Despite claims to the contrary made by the majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the call that started with about 60 MPs and eventually grew to 89 MPs was not the position taken by the Majority Caucus.
Amid threats by the ‘Ken Must Go’ MPs to boycott government business led by the embattled minister, the presidency convened a meeting where concessions were made.
Among others that Ofori-Atta should present the 2023 budget and see through the Appropriation Bill and to also conclude ongoing round of talks with the IMF with government eyeing a staff-level agreement for a programme by end of the year.
After the ‘rebel’ MPs reignited their call for the minister’s dismissal, the NPP national leaders also held a meeting with the Caucus where it was agreed that they will stick to the agreement reached with the president.
A social advocacy group focused on enabling local communities to engage the government and ensure they benefit from national policies and programmes, SEND Ghana, has advised government to slow down on its dependence on development partners to fund its capital expenditure.
In a press statement released on Thursday, December 1, 2022, the group noted that government’s contribution to the country’s capital expenditure continues to dwindle year after year.
The report reveals that in the 2023 budget, government funds amounted to 1.8 percent, while development partners contributed to 92.22 percent of the total allocations.
“Our analysis of the national budgets (2019-2023) shows that the government still relies heavily on Development Partners (DPs) to fund its capital investments for some major ministries. Investments in the provision of Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) services in the last four years have largely been donor driven. In the 2019 budget for the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, 70.26 percent of projected allocation was sourced from DPs. In 2020, it increased to 82.39 percent,” part of the release read.
“This trend continued in 2021 with projected funds from DPs, for purposes of capital expenditure, constituting 75 percent, while the GoG, Internal Generated Funds (IGF), and the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) collectively make up just about 25 percent. In the 2023 budget, a whopping 92.22 percent of the total allocation is expected to come from DPs while GoG’s contribution reduced from 8.48 percent in 2022 to 1.8 percent in 2023,” it added.
SEND Ghana acknowledged that while a massive contribution by development partners to the capital expenditure was essential for economic growth, over-reliance on external supports may hinder government’s agricultural modernization and industrialization initiative.
“While investment in CAPEX is critical in stimulating growth, over reliance on donor support, which is characteristically unpredictable, puts at risk the government’s drive in pursuing agricultural modernization and industrialization,” it added.
Parliament is expected to debate the 2023 budget in the coming week.
The minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has expressed disappointment over the decision of the majority not to support the minority in the impeachment of the finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to him, despite the fact that the majority failed to support them, the minority will not abandon the censorship motion.
Speaking to the media in parliament, he said President Akufo-Addo also indicated that Akufo-Addo does not respect public opinion.
“…President Akufo-Addo will go down in history under the fourth republic as the president who most disrespected public opinion because as far as we are concerned public opinion is not supportive and favourable to the continuous stay in office of Ken Ofori-Atta. We feel led down and we feel betrayed by the majority caucus who have shown no wits in supporting us with our impeachment process within the letter and spirit of Article 82 of the 1992 constitution we are not abandoning our censorship motion.”
The Majority Caucus in Parliament has rescinded their decision to boycott the 2023 Budget Statement by embattled Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
This comes after a meeting between the lawmakers and leaders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) which was held on November 23.
A statement co-signed by Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh and NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong read in part: “At a meeting this evening, the 22 of November 2022, involving the Majority Caucus, the Leadership of the Party and the Council of Elders, it has been agreed by all to refocus and recline to the earlier position requested by the President.”
The Majority in Parliament has rescinded its decision to be absent from the Chamber when Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, presents the 2023 budget and economic statement.
Mr Ofori-Atta is scheduled to present the 2023 budget tomorrow, November 24.
The Majority’s earlier position was that Mr Ofori-Atta could no longer be the face that represents the economy, thus should be replaced.
As part of measures to ensure the president accepts their request, some 98 NPP MPs threatened to boycott the budget reading.
Their actions prompted an intervention by the ruling New Patriotic Party. The leadership of the NPP on November 22 engaged the Caucus to find an amicable resolution to the impasse.
According to an NPP communique signed by the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, and the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, “the Leadership of the Parliamentary group and the Leadership of the Party counseled the Honourable Members of the Parliamentary Party to resort to the Caucus communications channels and, to the largest extent possible, work together as one Caucus unit,”
The statement also stated that the Party has resolved that the President will act on the earlier demands of the MPs after the 2023 budget has been read and appropriated.
The leadership of the Caucus has therefore entreated its members to attend to all government business in the house, particularly, the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy and all related matters.
The national executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have stepped in to resolve the impasse between some 98 members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament and the President over the demands for the sacking of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The NPP legislators had threatened to boycott all business brought to the house by the Finance Minister, including the budget presentation expected to take place on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
In view of this, the NPP national executives, held a meeting with the Members of Parliament to ensure that, they do not carry out their threat.
A statement jointly signed by the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh and the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Koduah as resolution to the ongoing impasse, urged the majority members to put their demands on ice until negotiations for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bail-out are completed.
After the said meeting, the NPP says it has been able to get the MPs to heed to the request by the President and will attend all government business brought to the house.
The National Council of Elders and national leadership of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) are set to hold a crunch meeting with members of parliament on the ticket of the party at 5pm today, Tuesday, November 22, 2022.
The meeting with the MPs who form the Majority Caucus of the current parliament is to discuss their demand for the removal of the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, from office.
Amidst their threats to boycott the minister’s presentation of the 2023 budget slated for Thursday, the leadership of the ruling party, according to a report by Myjoyonline.com, has scheduled to meet the MPs at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.
The aim of the meeting, according to the report, is to address the concerns of the MPs and pave the way for a smooth presentation of the budget in parliament.
Amidst public demands for the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta, some members of the Majority Caucus at a recent press conference echoed the demand for his removal, citing the current state of the Ghanaian economy among other issues.
Out of the over 130 members of the Majority Caucus, some 98 of the MPs have announced their intent to boycott the 2023 budget presentation if Mr Ofori-Atta is allowed to make the presentation.
“We’ve gone back to (our demand for the President to) sack him now and therefore should the budget be presented under the stamp of the Finance Minister, we’ll not participate because as far as we’re concerned, we’re never going to do business with him,” a spokesperson of the 98 MPs, Andy Appiah Kubi who is also the MP for Asante Akyem North recently said in a media interview.
The Majority Caucus has revealed that they would not support the Minority’s move to censure the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, although they want him removed from office.
Addressing the press today, the Majority, which called for the head of the Finance Minister about two weeks ago, explained that their justification for the Minister’s removal does not tally with that of the Minority’s.
“Over a few days, we have had the Finance Minister speaking, and his speaking has informed the Majority not only to state that we are back to the original position that we took and that original position is to say that the Minister of Finance will not be the one to read the budget and its appropriation.
However, we are not going to support the cause of the NDC in the chamber this morning. The cause of the NDC is premised on falsehood, propaganda and reasons that are not justifiable. They position might look like ours but it is not the same,” the Majority said.
The Majority explained that unlike the Minority, they believe although Mr Ofori-Atta has proven himself to be competent, the current state of the economy which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, has made Ghanaians lose confidence in him.
According to the Majority, this is not the assertion being run by the Minority, hence their decision not to support them in the House today.
“You will not be able to come to the Chamber to level 10 issues that border on criminality over a person who is not there to defend himself. Our feeling is the confidence in the minister has gone down but for COVID and the Russian-Ukraine war, he was doing well,” the Majority explained.
The Majority’s proclamation comes after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ordered its Members of Parliament (MPs) to abstain from the vote of censure against the embattled Finance Minister.
Parliament will today determine whether the Minority Caucus’ censure motion against Mr Ofori-Atta will be moved.
The motion which was filed on October 25, per the constitution is to be debated upon and voted on the same after 14 days of its receipt by the Speaker of Parliament.
Meanwhile, the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, has warned that members of the Majority Caucus who had rebelled against the Finance Minister may face dire consequences should the vote of censure fail.
According to him, in the event the vote of censure fails, the 80 Majority Caucus members would be at the mercy of their party officials and this will not bode well for them.
Already, all NDC MPs have been instructed not to miss today’s sitting in order to get the required number to carry out their objective.
The Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim has warned that there will be consequences should any member fail to show up.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Leader, has stated that the entire Majority Caucus in Parliament, now support calls for the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta, Finance Minister.
According to him, even though the issue started with over 90 NPP MPs who organised a press conference to demand the removal of the embattled minister else they boycott any government business in the House, the entire Majority Caucus now aligns with the position of the group.
The Suame MP speaking at a news conference on Thursday, November 3, 2022, explained, “even though the issue started with the group of 80 plus, the caucus meeting aligned with the position of that group, so it is no longer the cause of the 80 plus MPs. It is the agenda for the entire caucus and we are having some discussions on that.”
The Majority Leader who is also the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs had earlier stated on Accra-based Joy FM that there had been an attempt by a wealthy businessman to influence the MPs who organised the press conference to back down on their decision.
“I’m told on authority that some businessman came here and tried to do something. I was told that he came here and tried to mediate in his own way what he thinks the problem is…he was repelled by the people and told he was told not to involve himself. So he went away,” Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told Joy News in an interview.
“With particular reference to the attempted bribery, it’s come before me. We’ll investigate if it is true and if it is true, establish the motive of that person. Sometimes, these things come up.
“You remember the issue of a minister who was nominated to appear before the vetting committee. There was an allegation that he had attempted to bribe some people or influence some people. Eventually, it turned out to be – I will not say falsehood – but an untruth,” he stated further.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had already appealed to the NPP MPs to allow Ken Ofori-Atta to stay in office until the IMF negotiations and the 2023 Budget statement is presented.
He made this appeal in a meeting with the MPs at the Jubilee House shortly after they held the October 25 press conference to demand the sacking of Mr. Ofori-Atta.
It was the first time a group of MPs from the Majority Caucus have organised a press conference to demand the removal of one of their own – the finance minister and minister of state at the finance ministry – because they have become incompetent at the positions they occupied in government.
Since their ‘unprecedented’ press conference, the president Akufo-Addo, stepped in to plead on behalf of his ministers but the MPs decided not to back down on their request so, the president asked the MPs to allow Ofori-Atta to conclude the ongoing IMF negotiations and also present the 2023 budget statement to Parliament before they revisit the issue again.
It, however, emerged on Tuesday, November 1, a wealthy businessman after the president’s intervention also decided to meet the ‘anti-Ofori-Atta’ MPs and try to convince them to back down on their demand.
In his attempt, this influential unknown businessman is alleged to have made an attempt to present a brown envelope full of money to the over 90 MPs who organised the press conference to demand the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen.
“I’m told on authority that some businessman came here and tried to do something. I was told that he came here and tried to mediate in his own way what he thinks the problem is…he was repelled by the people and told he was told not to involve himself. So he went away,” Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told Joy News in an interview.
Giving the details of their meeting with this influential businessman, Andy Appiah-Kubi, MP, Asante Akim North, told Joy FM in an interview monitored by GhanaWeb that:
“I am part of the group that organised the press conference in respect of the claim that the Finance Minister should be relieved of his position and we have been meeting on this subject matter, there was an occasion that a man approached us and wanted to mediate on behalf of the finance minister.
“We assured him that we did not have anything against the Finance Minister per se except that the public confidence in him has waned, that we have been approached by our constituents and, therefore, we thought that it was time for him to go so we will rebuild public confidence in the ministry and the government.
“The man came and talked to us about it and wanted us to turn around and [re]consider the decision…we listened to him, and he said that while he has come here to talk to us; we have given him the opportunity to address us and therefore he wants to leave something behind for us. Indeed he got somebody to bring it and we said sorry, we cannot take anything. It is not for the reason of money that we are taking this decision, we are motivated by our conscience and therefore, it is not about materialism and that it is where it ended. We returned the money to him and he took it away.”
When asked if it was an attempt to bribe the MPs, Appiah-Kubi responded “we don’t consider it as a bribe because there was nothing that we were doing to his advantage as a person so, that will not constitute a bribe. It was something that he was doing to try and get us to accommodate probably; that cannot qualify as a bribe.”
“Bribe is when you have taken something to do the things that you will otherwise not do. But he has no personal interest in the matter so why will he pay a bribe? Maybe he was trying to offer something by way of his association with us so, I won’t call it a bribe, in any case, it was not given and nobody was a beneficiary of his gift or offer,” he added.
The leader of the ‘anti-Ofori-Atta’ MPs giving clarity on who this said businessman met indicated categorically that the wealthy businessman did not meet the entire Majority caucus but the group that came out on the day to organise the press conference to demand the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen.
This businessman further noted to the aggrieved MPs that “it is not in the interest of the business community to see this confusion in governance and therefore for the sake of the business community, and their businesses, let us ensure that there is peace and tranquility in the political space. That is why he has come to talk to us.
“There was no need to investigate the group he represented neither was a need for us to investigate his personal commitment or interest in this matter; but I saw him as a statesman and somebody who has business interest in Ghana, who is interested in the tranquility that existed within the leadership of the country.”
Member of Parliament (MP) for Oforikrom constituency, Ashanti Region, Dr Emmanuel Marfo in his opinion believes the Majority Caucus were in a haste to suspend their request for Ken Ofori-Atta’s dismissal.
The MP in a Facebook post on Thursday, October 27, 2022 stated that,” I read the Statement by the NPP caucus in response to the President’s plea for more time with lots of concern. I do not fully agree with it and perhaps would have been better to say we have taken all concerns on board and will do what will be in the best interest of the political and economic stability of our country”.
On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, some Members of Parliament who are part of the Majority Caucus called for the immediate dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, as well as the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.
They argued that relieving the duo of their duties will aid in fixing Ghana’s struggling economy, which has been plagued by rising inflation and debt.
In light of this, President Akufo-Addo met with the dissatisfied legislators and demanded that the Finance Minister conclude Ghana’s negotiations with the IMF and submit the 2023 Budget Statement to Parliament.
Briefly after the interaction, the Majority Caucus in a statement dated Wednesday, October 26, noted that after deliberation among members, it will withhold its current demands.
Read Dr Emmanuel Marfo’s Statement here:
*DR. EMMANUEL MARFO (MP) writes:*
Statement by the Majority caucus in Parliament on call for sacking Finance Ministers
I read the Statement by the NPP caucus in response to the President’s plea for more time with lots of concern. I do not fully agree with it and perhaps would have been better to say we have taken all concerns on board and will do what will be in the best interest of the political and economic stability of our country.
I think the turn of events post the press conference begs for some questions in order to come to a conclusion whether the action was needed in the first place. Was the grievance of the 80 MPs and their subsequent action well communicated to the leadership of the Party and the Caucus? Did the Caucus leadership communicate to the President? Did the President provide a response consistent with his plea to leadership? Did leadership convey the President’s response to the concerned MPs or the Caucus?
In effect I am asking whether there was effective engagement within us. If indeed there was, and one may say the President was ‘recalcitrant’ then the press statement may be justified, if not, then perhaps in my humble view, the press Statement was too early.
However, we are made to believe that the sentiments were rightly conveyed to the President and that his response was unfavourable to the concerns of the MPs. In that case, I dont think the MPs, and now the caucus, should have backed down on our demands. Why? Because for MPs in a ruling Party to come to a point of going public to demand of their President to sack an appointee, and no less an appointee than a Finance Minister, a lot of public pressure, political and intellectual thinking and and assessment MUST have gone into that decision.
Securing public and perhaps Party interest must have been stretched beyond its elastic limit and that nothing should stop them from going back. The MPs must have reached a point where the die is cast and that no amount of words were going to stop the crossing of Rubicon. It must be the point of no return and here the words of Sun Tzu come to mind “he will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” Now the cake is half-baked, you cannot eat it, you can’t throw it away!
In any case, I think the response in the Statement, especially the condition that the President must sack them after the IMF and budget assignments, will even worsen the plight of the President, politically-speaking because he has been put in a very tight corner; indeed between the devil and the deep blue sea. If we were going to listen to the President’s plea, then my view is that we should not have given him any conditions and allow events to take their natural course. And indeed, if I were Ken or Charles, perhaps this is the time to have honourably resigned. Why? Because we seem to have passed a death sentence on them and that regardless of what they will do, we are only waiting for the clock to tick, just to wait for their day of cruxificion. Wow!! This is most unfair, to say the least. How would they be in the right frame of emotional, pyschological and intellectual mind to execute the very critical job for which we have been begged to wait till completed? Are we looking for quality output or just to tick the check box that a job is done?
In any case, I cannot also stand for the Statement because it defeats, fundamentally, the very principle for which we called for the cruxificion. Are we saying that regardless of the Ken-led IMF negotation, a role I dont support anyway, or how good his 2023 budget will look like, he must still go? If that is so, and indeed as the statement suggests, then we have already declared no hope in their competence and that nothing good can come from Nazareth. If indeed that is our fatal hope and expectation, then I beg to suggest that there is no need to waste any further time on these gentlemen, they must go! However, the flip side is, if for any reason, they deliver a good IMF programme and a great budget to our satisfaction, would we still insist they go? One may say, of course not but then we would have already created the fertile conditions for their dismissal by the ‘agreement’ in our Statement.
The President, and indeed all of us majority MPs, will come under immense pressure, especially when the press Statement has received immense public applause.
In summary, I think if we really came to a point of going public, then nothing should have stopped us for standing on our demands. If we were going to yield, then we should not have given any conditions to the President. Afterall, it cannot be the case that the 80 MPs did not know that Ken was busy leading an IMF negotation and that he was busy preparing the 2023 budget. It cannot be that the MPs did not contemplate the consequences of our demand on these ongoing assignments.
For me it is a zero-sum game, this symbolic win-win semblance will come back to bite us. Mark my words! He who fights and run away, lives to fight another day-Bob Marley
I like the slogan of an insurance advert, if it must be done, it must be done well. If Ken and Charles must go, they must go now, else lets forever hold our peace and pray for something good to come from Nazareth. The Parliamentary group is a very powerful, respectable and honourable arm of our Party. Next time, when we have to leap, we must weigh and watch and when we leap in the glare of the public, we must never return to base. Before we speak, we must have come to a point of no surrender, less we make mockery of ourselves. This is politics, Selah!
Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has stated that President Akufo-Addo’s engagement with identifiable economic groups and institutions in the country has been fruitful and smooth and the deliberations has largely focused on the need to restore economic stability.
He said this when he addressed the press at the Jubilee House on 26 October 2022, at the end of two days of broad consultations between the President and multiple groups and stakeholders in the country’s economic space.
Amongst the groups the President held meetings with are; Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana Association of Bankers, Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and Transport Operators.
The rest are Forex Bureau Association of Ghana, Forex Bureau, Market Women, Ghana Employers Association, Private Enterprise Federation, and the leaders of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
In his interaction with the identifiable bodies, President Akufo-Addo, according to Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, briefed them on the state of negotiations between his government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the implications of a possible programme with the fund on the country’s economy in the coming weeks and in the long term.
“Cost of living has been big on the agenda, the currency is being big on the agenda but item number one has been stability, restoring economic stability and then on the back of that, looking to how we can bring back so growth and expansion on the Ghana economy. These discussions have gone very smoothly” Oppong Nkrumah said.
“Our expectation is that all of these will form a part of what the President and cabinet will be considering over the weekend prior to making some decision and then on Sunday, he [President Akufo-Addo] will have the opportunity to address the nation and we take the steps from there” he added.
President Akufo-Addo’s engagement with economic groupings in the country and the upcoming Cabinet retreat follows the challenging state of the country’s economy as a result of the hit it has suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the geo-political war ongoing between Russia and Ukraine.
The entire global economy according to financial expects is slipping into recession as the World Bank warns that it will take all the countries of the world several decades to pay off the debts they have accumulated over COVID-19 spending in the last two years alone.
The Majority Caucus in Parliament on Wednesday issued a tempered statement following a surprise announcement on Tuesday by some of its members who had called for the removal of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Minister of State for Finance Charles Adu Boahene.
Wednesday’s press statement by the Majority Caucus, signed by Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, MP, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, confirmed a much anticipated, but quick, meeting between President Nana Akufo-Addo and his party’s MPs about the surprise announcement, with Members of Parliament (MPs) of the governing National Patriotic Party (NPP) pledging to back the President.
Sources at Jubilee House had earlier indicated that the call for the removal of the Ministers for Finance had caught the Presidency by surprise.
According to the statement, the President has requested that the matter be delayed and “acted upon” after “the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)” as well as the next presentation of the budget statement and economic policy”. This is to be followed by the passage of the Appropriation Bill, which is also a few weeks away.
The Majority Caucus, in their press statement, said that after internal discussions among their rank and file on Wednesday, they had “agreed to accede to the President’s appeal”.
In the meantime, analysts have pondered over the timing of Tuesday’s surprise announcement with looming fears over the uncertainty of the state of the country’s economic health should the Finance Ministers step aside, especially at a watershed moment. The two are currently leading negotiations on Ghana’s 17th return to the IMF. They are also in the middle of a yet-to-be finalised debt restructuring programme.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader in Parliament, has appealed to the Majority Caucus to halt discussions on the sacking of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta until negotiations with the IMF have concluded.
Some members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament are mounting pressure on President Akufo-Addo to sack Ofori-Atta, and the minister of state at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, to restore public confidence in the Ghanaian economy.
Speaking on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (26 October), he said, “My advise after hearing them was that, if they were talking about this matter two or three months ago, that would have been different.”
According to the Suame MP, “even the first phase [of negotiation with the IMF] has not been concluded. Those conclusions will be factored into the budget.”
“They [IMF team] have come here on two occasions, the minister has led a team to Washington to follow up for the discussions, they are coming here again next week. And soon after, the conclusions we will derive will be captured into the budget that we are expecting not later than 15 November.
“We are pleading with them that looking at where we are, I am not too sure this is the appropriate time to be talking about this. So, I was pleading to let their feet pause the accelerator pedal for a while, maybe after the budget we could resurrect it. Now is not the best time,” Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said.
The International Monetary Fund is already in talks with Ghana over a US$3 billion deal for budgetary support, aimed at reviving the economy and restoring investor confidence.
Demands of the MPs
Addressing the media in Parliament on Tuesday (25 October 2022), the spokesman for the caucus and MP for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, said the move will help save the economy from further collapse.
“We have had occasion to defend allegations of conflict of interest, lack of confidence and trust against leadership of our Finance Ministry. The recent developments within our economy are of great concern to the greater majority of members of our caucus and our constituents,” Appiah-Kubi said.
“We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the president change the Minister [for] Finance and the minister of state in the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope into the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of our economy.
“The summary of our concern leads to the plea that the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the minister of state at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, should be removed from office.
“Meanwhile, we want to serve notice that until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the Majority Caucus here in Parliament will not participate in any business of government by or for the president or by any other minister. If our request is not responded to positively, we’ll not be present for the Budget hearing, neither would we participate in the debate,” Appiah-Kubi told the media.
The International Monetary Fund has launched talks with Ghana over a US$3 billion deal for budgetary support, aimed at reviving the economy and restoring investor confidence.
A private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has said he was pleasantly surprised by the press conference held by some Members of Parliament on the side of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) who called on President Akufo-Addo to sack his Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry Charles Adu Boahen.
He said this is an indication that the lawmakers are listening to concerns being raised by Ghanaians.
Mr Kpebu who earlier called for the impeachment of the President following the economic challenges, while speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday October 23, told Eric Mawuena Egbeta on the Mid day news on 3FM Tuesday October 25 that, “I was pleasantly surprised, that also means that they are listening.
“You see how on Saturday we spoke truth to power on Key Points and it resounded with Ghanaians, of course other people had made this call over and over, it means the Parliamentarians are listening , God bless them. That is the honour we were referring to on the Key Points.”
The Majority caucus in Parliament have threatened to boycott the presentation and debate on the 2023 budget statement if President Akufo-Addo does not remove Mr Ofori-Atta and Adu Boahen.
The NPP MPs believe that the prevailing economic situation in the country does not make it right for the two gentlemen to remain in office hence the President must ask them to go.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, October 25, a lawmaker for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah Kubi said “We are unhappy with the developments in the country, we consulted our constituents who also expressed same sentients.
“We want the President to remove Ken Ofori and Chares Adu Boahen.
“We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the President changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State in the Finance Ministry without further delay.
“We want to serve notice, and notice is hereby served that until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the Majority Caucus here in Parliament will not participate in any business of Government by or, for the president by any other Minster.
“We hope that those of us in the back bench and members of the Majority caucus will abide by this prayer.
“We are saying that if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing neither will we participate in the debate.
On Tuesday, October 25, about 80 Members of Parliament within the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP)were reported to have signed a petition demanding the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta as finance minister.
The group, through a press conference, also demanded the removal of Charles Adu Boahen, who serves as a Minister of State at the finance ministry; a close ally of Ken Ofori-Atta.
The MPs explained that their position follows several concerns over the poor management of the economy, which has forced the government to seek IMF assistance.
The group added that should the president fail to heed to their call, they will no longer do business with the government nor support the 2023 budget.
The MP for Asante-Akim North, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, who introduced himself as the spokesperson for the Majority Caucus, said that several concerns raised on economic management have been sent to government, but are all yet to yield the intended results.
In the wake of the development, some Ghanaians on social media have lauded the confidence of the majority MPs.
Although President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has on numerous occasions backed down against calls to change his finance minister, the pressure now appears to be mounting from within his own party.
Some citizens have also already concluded that the president would likely not dismiss Ken Ofori-Atta, basing their assumption on the close family ties Akufo-Ado has with the finance minister.
While this is yet to come to fruition, GhanaWeb Business has compiled a list of potential candidates who are likely to be the best replacements if Ken Ofori-Atta is taken off the job at the Ministry of Finance.
Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah
Dr Assibey-Yeboah is a former Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament. During his tenure as chair, he led many engagements toward sound economic indicators of government.
He has also earned himself a reputation for being an economic guru among his peers.
Prior to Ghana returning to the IMF, Dr Assibey-Yeboah warned of harsh economic conditions and therefore called on the government to resort to the Fund at an earlier time ahead of its July 1, 2022 decision.
He also cast doubts on the government’s ability to raise the projected GH¢6.9 billion revenue target from the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), insisting they would not be able to realise the intended target – a prediction which came to be.
Dr. Assibey-Yeboah holds a BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Economics degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He also holds an MS (Agricultural and Resource Economics) from the University of Delaware, USA.
He has earned an MA and a Ph.D. both in Economics from the University of Tennessee, USA specializing in International Macroeconomics, Monetary Economics and Econometrics.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah has worked in various capacities, locally and abroad. He has served as lecturer at the University of Tennessee, USA and worked in a similar capacity as an Adjunct Faculty at Milligan College, Tennessee-USA.
The former lawmaker has also served as a senior economist at the Bank of Ghana and has been a lecturer at the Ghana Telecom Technology University College and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
Professor Gyan-Baffour
Prof. George Yaw Gyan-Baffour is a Ghanaian development economist. He was in charge of the former Ministry of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
He is credited for the introduction of Ghana’s first Monitoring and Evaluation mechanism which was used for assessing the progress of national development and dubbed the ‘Annual Progress Report’.
Despite the ministry no longer being in existence, the mechanism continues to be used in the monitoring and evaluation tool of Ghana’s development agenda.
He also supervised the preparation of the Coordinated Program for the Economic and Social Development of Ghana (2002-2012), which is a constitutional requirement for the President of the Republic of Ghana.
Prof. Gyan Baffour is also credited for leading the team that prepared Ghana’s first compact under the Millennium Challenge Account.
Prior to leaving for the USA to further his education, Prof. Baffour worked at the Ministry of Industrial Science and Technology from 1974 to 1984.
He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Ghana and has served on various boards of institutions, including the Bank of Ghana.
He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in Industrial Relations; a Post Doctorate diploma from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; an MA in economic policy from University of Wisconsin, Madison; a BSc. (Hons) degree in Economics from the University of Ghana.
Kwame Pianim
Kwame Pianim is not a stranger when it comes to finance and economic management in Ghana.
The renowned economist is a management and investment consultant who has served in various capacities in government and the private sector.
He served as an Economic Research Officer of the United Nations-USA, from 1964 to 1970.
He was the Acting Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning from 1970 to 1972 and served as Deputy Managing Director of Ghana Aluminum Products Limited, Tema. He was also Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board from 1978 – 1979.
The veteran economist also served as the Chairman of Ghana Financial Services Limited at Bayport Financial Services Limited and was the Chairman of the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC).
Kwame Pianim attended Achimota Secondary School and holds a B.A. Double Honors in Economics and Political Science from the University of New Brunswick, Canada (1963) and M.A. in Economics from Yale University (1964).
With additional files from the Chamber of Independent Power Producers
Dr. Ernest Addison
Dr. Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison is an economist and the 15th Governor of the Bank of Ghana.
He attended the Methodist College and the Mfantsipim School for his primary and secondary education. Dr. Addison then proceeded to the University of Ghana and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from 1982 to 1986.
From 1987 to 1989, he obtained an M.Phil in Economics and Politics from the University of Cambridge in England and later a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Economics from McGill University in Canada.
Before he was appointed Governor of the BoG, Dr. Addison served as the former Director of Research at the Bank of Ghana from 2003 to 2011, as well as an Economist at the African Development Bank.
He specializes in financial policy and economic management.
One person has been injured and at least one vehicle has been set on fire following a dispute over a piece of land in Central Dzorwulu, Accra.
The police in a Facebook post on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 , indicated that the burnt car belonged to two men who hired some thugs to destroy a four-bedroom flat.
“The Police responded to the scene to restore calm. Police later had information that one of the vehicles belonging to the suspects, Nana Owusu Banahene and James Quainoo, run into a ditch and was attacked by a mob who pelted them with stones, injured one of the suspects, James Quainoo, and set his car ablaze,” the police added.
The thugs in an attempt to flee from the police whilst executing the assigned task entered into a ditch.
Information gathered by the police shows that before the demolishing began, the perpetrators attacked the occupants of the house.
On Monday, October 24, 2022, a video which saw a middle-aged man driver bleeding profusely in the middle of the streets went viral on Twitter.
A voice was heard from the video stating that someone had been shot.
However, the police have thus far established that nobody was shot during the incident as per what has been circulated.
The law enforcement body, have also stated that the two culprits are in police custody.
In the meantime, while efforts are being made to apprehend all of the other culprits, the injured suspect is receiving medical care at the hospital.
Also, the police has asked the public to maintain calm adding that it is in control of the situation and would update the public on any development.
“The Police are in control of the situation and calm has since been restored. We, therefore, wish to urge the public to remain calm. Further developments will be shared in due course,” the police added.
The Standing Committee of the Council of State has engaged with the leadership of the majority caucus in Parliament to discuss ways the two sides can work together to prevent scuffles that have characterized the House during recent deliberations.
The meeting with the Majority caucus on February 28 was to pave the way for the members to share from their viewpoint the challenges militating against smooth deliberations in Parliament, Graphic.com reports.
The council led by Chairman of the Council State, Nana Otuo Siriboe II, had earlier met with the Minority Caucus to discuss the same issues.
Addressing the press ahead of the closed-door meeting, Nana Otuo Siriboe II lamented over the fisticuffs in the House since the inauguration of the Eighth Parliament.
“These do not reflect well on the nature of Ghana’s Parliament. This is the Eighth Parliament since the Fourth Republic, and all the seven Parliaments have performed with a lot of credit, and it is not proper that we should see this enviable record which we have had go down the drain,” he said.
Describing Parliament as an awesome institution, he said recent developments in the House were, unfortunately, making Parliament become “awful”.
“And we have to arrest that situation, and to be able to do that, we must be able to interact with you, the actors,” Graphic.com quoted.
This engagement is one of the meetings scheduled to be hosted by the council to encourage good governance and foster peace among the country’s political leadership.
The council intends to have separate meetings with the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, and his two deputy speakers today, March 1, 2022.
