Former Kumbungu lawmaker Ras Mubarak has described as untenable reasons given by the Minority in Parliament for the approval of Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister.
According to him, the claim the “argument that the Finance Minister messed the economy so should be approved to face it is so flawed. Would the Minority Leader hand over his car to a driver who out of sheer incompetence or negligence crashed his car?”
He stressed: “Secondly if the economy is messed up further by the one who crashed it initially as we are made to believe, it is the fed-up man or woman in the streets who suffers and not the politician who gets some things tax-free. If this were meant to assuage the base, it has backfired big time. We are not buying it”.
Meanwhile, the opposition National Democratic Congress has called for calm among its followers following the consensus approval of Finance Minister-nominee Ken Ofori-Atta by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
“It is hereby announced to the rank and file of the party and to the notice of all Comrades, that a decision by the Appointments Committee to recommend Ken Ofori Atta for the approval by consensus will be made public today in Parliament.
“Following what transpired previously in respect of vetting and approval of some Ministers designate the Minority leadership, the Party leadership as well as the Council of Elders have engaged in extensive consultations with the view to adopt a common position based on the exigencies of the situation,” General Secretary of the party Johnson Asiedu Nketia said in a statement.
It added: “I, therefore, urge all members to remain circumspect when the need for reaction arise. The NDC Parliamentary Caucus and FEC will be fully briefed accordingly”.
Meanwhile, the Minority leader and ranking member for the committee Haruna Iddrisu in seconding the motion argued that the support from his side does not mean satisfaction of performance of the nominee.
According to him, the minister must be made to face the consequences of running down the economy for the past four years. The Tamale South MP, however, assured the minister will be made to account for oil revenues as flagged by PIAC.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
