Why I Haven't Resigned- Ken Ofori-Atta reveals

The majority of Ghanaians, including parliamentarians from the NPP and NDC, have called on the Finance Minister to resign, but Ken Ofori-Atta has spoken out about his choice to stay in that position.

The minister claimed that the requests for his resignation were legitimate in light of the democratic framework of the country.

Mr. Ofori-Atta stressed in a weekend interview with GTV that as a public person, people had the right to express their desire for his ouster.

He said, nevertheless, that he was unable to flee the nation when it counted most.

“In the period of censure, in which Parliament then voted against it, but more importantly, you were in a situation where you were battered and broken. [But] you do not leave a ship at that time. And given the urgency of ensuring the IMF programme goes through, for me, it was a duty to serve, and there was no running away from it, … and really we serve at the president’s pleasure” the Finance Minister said.

In 2022, the Finance Minister encountered criticism, with certain members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) advocating for his removal, holding him accountable for the country’s economic difficulties.




Ken Ofori-Atta reveals why he has not resigned
Furthermore, the National Democratic Congress presented a censure motion aimed at his expulsion, citing reasons such as significant incompetence and potential conflicts of interest.

The MPs cited the following reasons as justification to revoke Ken Ofori-Atta’s appointment:

Despicable conflict of Interest ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantage. particularly from Ghana’s debt overhang.
Unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund in blatant contravention of Article 178 of the 1992 Constitution supposedly for the construction of the President’s Cathedral;
Illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts in flagrant violation of Article 176 of the 1992 Constitution;
Deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament
Fiscal recklessness leading to the crash of the Ghana Cedi which is currently the worst performing currency in the world;
Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and on excruciating cost of living crisis;
Gross mismanagement of the economy which has occasioned untold and unprecedented hardship.

Amid the vote to remove the Finance Minister from his position, the Majority staged a walkout, preventing the Minority from forming the quorum needed for Mr Ofori-Atta to be removed from office.

The proponents of the motion needed the votes of 183 legislators to have the motion passed against Mr. Ofori-Atta.