Watch how Felix Kwakye Ofosu ‘humbled’ Miracles Aboagye

Former Deputy Communications Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu and Presidential Staffer Miracles Aboagye, engaged in a banter which saw the former ‘subduing’ the latter.

In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosisem, the issue of whether former President John Mahama, during his days as Vice President under President Mills was the Chair of the Economic Management Team and whether an Economic Management Team was even present was debated.

Miracles Aboagye noted that sources indicate that an Economic Management Team (EMT) was absent but an an Economic Advisory Council was set up by then President Atta Mills.

Felix Kwakye, who in 2008 worked for Hannah Tetteh, then Trade Minister, refuted the claim. He noted that there were times he accompanied Hannah Tetteh to EMT meetings.

“You sit here and say someone is daft but the analysis you are making her is one made in a chop bar. You sit here and say things you have no idea about. If someone tells you that there was no EMT under Mills, it is a lie.

I know that because I was Hannah Tetteh’s Special Assistant. Hannah Tetteh was Minister for Trade, she was a member of that Committee. There were days that I went with her to the castle. The EMT was chaired by Mahama.”

In 2009, President John Evans Atta Mills constituted an Economic Advisory Council (ECA) to advise him on key economic issues affecting the country and among its members were three individuals Dr. Cadman Atta Mills, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur and Dr Gorbin Nankani (Chair) who were also members of the Economic Management Team.

The 10-member committee was to liaise with existing institutions to formulate key economic policies for the country.

On the issue, Felix Kwakye Ofosu noted that the EMT and Economic Advisory Council were both existent.

“The Advisory Council is not something new. Amissah Arthur was Vice President and EMT Chair but you know Mahama set up a Presidential advisory group on the economy that he, Mahama chaired. So the existence of an Advisory Council does not mean there is no EMT. So I am placing it on record that he is a liar,” he said.

He therefore jabbed, “Miracles does not know what he is talking about. Whoever your source is, is a liar.”

In recent times, the role of the government’s Economic Management Team (EMT) has been a focal point of discussion in light of Ghana’s current economic challenges, particularly under the leadership of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.

Dr Bawumia has been bashed for failing to live up to his promise to provide a progressive economy.

Traditionally, under the Fourth Republic, the vice president has been tasked with leading the EMT, which serves primarily as an advisory body to the president and is typically comprised of top economic and finance experts within the ruling party.

In the ongoing discourse between pro-government and opposition factions, there has been speculation regarding whether former Vice President John Mahama was ever appointed as the head of the EMT during his tenure under the late President John Evans Atta Mills.

This question appears to have been resolved with the circulation of a letter dated November 23, 2010, which indicates then Vice President John Mahama’s role on the team.

The letter, signed by the then Cabinet Secretary JK Berbaako-Mensah and copied to the Chief of Staff at the time, Henry Martey Newman, outlines the composition and responsibilities of the EMT.

It stipulates that the team, chaired by Mahama, was to convene at least once a month and included key figures such as the ministers of finance, energy, agriculture, trade and industry, as well as the Governor of the Bank of Ghana and other members of the government’s economic advisory board.