ACCRA, Ghana – Ghanaian President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, kept Ghanaians in suspense on Sunday, May 28, as he failed to deliver on his pledge to provide an update on the status of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, following the conclusion of the IMF deal. The silence from the presidency has deepened the uncertainty around the Finance Minister’s political future.
In the run-up to the President’s address, numerous Ghanaians anticipated a definitive statement regarding the fate of the embattled Finance Minister, whose tenure has been marked by widespread economic challenges. However, President Akufo-Addo notably refrained from making any comment on the issue, leading to a cloud of uncertainty hovering over the Minister’s political career.
Last year, more than 80 New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs voiced their displeasure with the Finance Minister, holding him responsible for the nation’s economic downturn. Their demand for Ofori-Atta’s dismissal generated significant political heat.
However, the NPP MPs softened their stance following a meeting with President Akufo-Addo, agreeing to his plea to keep Ofori-Atta in office until the conclusion of the nation’s bailout agreement with the Bretton Woods institution.
Now that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal has been successfully completed, some MPs have renewed their call for Ofori-Atta’s departure. They urge President Akufo-Addo to fulfil his promise and release the Finance Minister from his current role.
Among those pushing for the Minister’s departure is Eugene Boakye Antwi, the MP for Subin, who expressed his disappointment at the President’s silence.
“President Akufo-Addo must abide by his promise to let Ken Ofori-Atta go,” he stated. “My job is to expose the failings I think are happening at the Ministry of Finance… Principle and conviction alone should make you resign.”
As Ghanaians await a decision, the future of Ken Ofori-Atta as Ghana’s Finance Minister hangs in the balance. The ball, it seems, is firmly in President Akufo-Addo’s court.
