The Editor-in-Chief of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt, has questioned the grounds the Majority caucus in Parliament is demanding for the dismissal of Ken Ofori Atta as Finance Minister.

The renowned member of the fourth estate of the realm says if the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has constantly blamed the current untold hardships on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic the majority caucus demanding for the minister’s removal over the economic challenges lacks positive accuracy.

He stated emphatically that the dire state is as a result of the “incompetence” of the managers of the economy.

“We have a situation where now; the so-called majority caucus has come to the realisation that… the economy is not doing well. That the economy is not doing well, at least, partly as a result of the incompetence of the managers of the economy.

“Now pitch that against the singsong all this time that the real cause of the problem is the Russia-Ukraine war. I, sitting here, and I am wondering how Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu-Boahen are responsible for the Russia-Ukraine war.

“If the Russia-Ukraine war is the main reason that we are here, why call for the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu-Boahen, who have nothing to do with the Russia-Ukraine war,” he said.

The Minority caucus in Parliament on Tuesday joined calls for the dismissal of the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen over the rising cost of living.

Amongst other things, the Minority at a short press briefing addressed by Cassiel Ato Forson listed some reasons Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta must be dismissed.

“Despicable conflict of Interest ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantages, 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 an excruciating cost of living crisis;”

“Gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy which as occasioned untold and unprecedented hardship,” the Minority said.

However, Kwesi Pratt believes the sentiments of the Minority are hypocritical and if they meant it they should have rejected Ofori-Atta’s nomination as Finance Minister during vetting.

“There’s nothing in that memorandum which we didn’t know two years ago. Two years ago, who didn’t know; the debt stock was rising, the company that advises the government on loans we were securing, and so on.

We knew all of these two years ago. And yet, this so-called minority in Parliament had no qualms at all two years ago, about overwhelmingly endorsing Mr. Ken Ofori Atta as Minister of Finance,” he argued.

“What has changed?” Kwesi Pratt wondered “Somebody should be telling me what has changed.”

Pratt stated the dismissal of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen will yield no positive results if the elephant in the room is not addressed.

In his view, the fundamental problem with Ghana’s economy is structural and not its managers.

“The impression being created; ‘remove Ofori Atta and Charles Adu Boahen and everything will be fine’ is a false impression.

“It is false to the extent the economy is suffering structural problems and unless we focus our attention on the structural problem of the economy which all of us know – even the president knows. At his inauguration did the president not talk about moving away from the Guggisberg economy? He knew that it was a structural problem,” he averred.

He said sacking Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen or even all the ministers without addressing the structural problems will have no effect.

By: Bernard Ralph Adams | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana