A Political Scientist, Dr. Kwame Asa Asante has said the decision by some New Patriotic Party MPs to stand down their demand for the dismissal of the Finance Minister does not weaken their case.
About 80 MPs of the Majority caucus in Parliament on Tuesday called for the immediate removal of both Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister and Charles Adu Boahen as the Minister of State at the Ministry.
According to the New Patriotic Party(NPP) MPs, the removal of the duo is the only way to restore confidence in Ghana’s tattered economy.
Addressing the media, the NPP MPs led by Asante Akyem North MP and former deputy minister for Railways Development, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi disclosed a number of petitions have already been sent to President Akufo-Addo over the poor performance of his finance minister demanding action but to no avail.
According to him, the majority will boycott any government business including approval of the 2023 budget if the President fails to heed their demand.
But after a meeting with President Akufo Addo over the issue, the NPP MPs have accepted President Akufo-Addo’s appeal to let both Ken Ofori-Atta, and Charles Adu Boahen remain in office till after the IMF negotiation is concluded.
A statement issued by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said the Minister of Finance will stay “until the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy in November, 2022 and the subsequent passage of the Appropriation Bill after which time the demand will be acted upon.”
Some have said the softening of the stance by the Majority Caucus has weakened their case.
But Speaking on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Dr. Asa Asante who’s a Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana does not think so.
“I don’t think so, democracy is a continuum and it’s also a dialogue process. You don’t only take but you give sometimes. You give and you take and you arrive at a conclusion. If you are an MP and you represent your party and constituents whoever is leading calls you for a meeting and you’ve made a proposal there’s the need to give him a hearing. The President said I will listen to you, bear with me but let me finish with the IMF negotiation and the Budget reading. These are legitimate concerns that you need to look at. I think that they(MPs) have taken it in good faith.”
He added: “What is left to be done is that the President will not renege on his promise. If he does so there are implications. It will undermine the credibility of the government that after all the government is not sincere. You promised this and you’ve given us something to the contrary. The President and the government at this time will not want to move on that route. It will create more problems for them.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh
