President Nana Addo Dankwa Dankwa lacks the courage to fire his underperforming ministers, including Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, according to James Agalga, Member of Parliament for Builsa North.
To that end, he stated, the Minority is attempting to assist him by passing a vote of censure against Mr Ken Ofori-Atta.
Mr Agalga, a former Deputy Minister for the Interior, said in an interview with TV3’s Roland Walker in Parliament on Thursday, November 10 ahead of sittings, “President Akufo-Addo hasn’t got the guts, the courage to fire the man he himself appointed.” So, if you can’t act, we’ll act by invoking the Act in the Constitution to save this country from total collapse.”
He also urged New Patriotic Party (NPP) members of Parliament not to abstain from voting to remove the finance minister.
He urged the MPs to defy the General Secretary of the NPP’s order not to participate in the exercise.
“Members of Parliament from the NPP should openly defy the orders because they have already stated publicly that this man is unfit to serve.”
“It will be a day of shame for Parliament if they do not participate,” he said.
In a statement, the NPP urged its lawmakers not to vote with the minority in Parliament to remove Mr. Ofori-Atta.
In a press statement, the party stated that the opposition lawmakers have an ill-motivated and self-serving agenda to sabotage the NPP government and frustrate the country’s administration.
“The Majority Caucus leadership, particularly the whips, are to ensure that no member of the Majority Caucus participates in this exercise by the Minority Group in Parliament.” The government’s negotiation team with the International Monetary Fund is led by the Minister of Finance, according to the leadership.
“Given that the negotiation with the IMF is nearing completion, the party’s national executive body is concerned that the removal of the lead negotiator may jeopardize the progress made thus far.”
“It is worth noting that when similar calls for Mr Seth Terkper’s head were made during the socio-economic turbulence under the erstwhile Mahama administration in 2015, the NDC-led Majority caucus objected to those calls and rose to Mr. Terkper’s defense, demonstrating the NDC’s lack of credibility on this matter.”
“As a result, neither the NPP nor its Members of Parliament will lend their support to this mischievous move by the NDC legislators as it is one of their many ill-motivated and self-serving but unpatriotic moves to sabotage the NPP government and frustrate the administration of the country,” said the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, in a statement issued on Wednesday, November 9.
This comes as Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu urged NPP lawmakers not to back down in their support for Finance Minister Ken Ofori-removal. Atta’s
He claimed that any move by NPP lawmakers to abandon their efforts to remove Mr. Ofori-Atta would harm Ghana’s democracy by weakening Parliament’s oversight role.
Mr Iddrisu stated that he will introduce a motion in Parliament on Thursday, November 10, calling for the censure of votes cast against Mr Ofori-Atta.
Also read: NDC will return to save Ghanaians from the NPP’s incompetence
He admitted that the National Democratic Congress lawmakers lack the required two-thirds majority to pass their motion, and thus will need the support of the NPP MPs who previously called for Mr Ofori-dismissal Atta’s to do so.
“I’m determined to move the motion of censure,” he said on Wednesday, November 8, during a political dialogue series hosted by Media General.
“Admittedly, the Minority MPs may not achieve the two-thirds number standing alone, so when the Majority said they will support us, it was comforting.” If they back down, it will be disastrous.
“Admittedly, the Minority MPs may not achieve the two-thirds number standing alone, so when the Majority said they will support us, it was comforting.” If they back down, it will weaken Parliament, reduce its oversight role, and allow the minister to run wild.”
“Anywhere in the world, Mr Ofori-Atta should have been gone by now, accepting full responsibility for what has happened,” he added.
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