For citizens who have simply given up on Ghana with the excuse that it is not the ideal place to achieve their dreams and be happy, Ghana’s under fire Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta disagrees.
Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta insists that Ghana remains our best bet.
“Let me assure you all that your best bet is still Ghana; we can do it and we should do it. The question is, what resources do we have…and how we’re going to deploy them in the nation that we have.”
“… and how do we stand firm in very difficult circumstances by being very confident that the nation is purposed for greatness and you are blessed to have the opportunity to lead where we are going.”
Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta said this while speaking at an Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) forum in Accra, where he reiterated government and the Bank of Ghana’s measures to stabilise the cedi by the end of the year, admitting that the free fall of the cedi has become “an albatross on the neck of our local industries.”
The current economic hardship in the country which is taking a severe toll on individuals and businesses, has heightened the desire of some citizens to look for opportunities outside the shores of Ghana.
The Minister, who has been under pressure to resign for mismanaging the economy, is however unhappy about attempts by critics of the government to downplay the efforts being made to resuscitate the economy.
While admitting for instance, the struggles of the Ghanaian cedi against major currencies, and its impact on local industries, he stated that, “You have a Finance Minister who has gone through all the pains and aches, and nobody can really come and say ‘we don’t understand what we’re doing.”
He was however confident that the cedi will stabilize to bring the much needed relief to individuals and businesses.
“As a Minister of Finance, no one needs to tell me the ravages of the cedi depreciation which has become an albatross on the neck of our local industries and the high cost of living for all citizens.”
Just like the President, the Finance Minister also expressed concern about speculation, saying it is one of the major causes of the depreciation of the cedi in recent times.
In his interaction with members of AGI, the Finance Minister in response to those demanding his resignation, said he has felt the “pains and aches”, and yet he is more concerned about how the country will bounce back.
He is particularly calling for a conversation on how the country’s resources can be prudently used to ensure the desired growth and development.
In recent times, calls have deepened for the resignation of Mr. Ofori-Atta over the weakening of the Ghanaian economy.
These calls were given a major boost by members of his own party in Parliament who threatened to kick against government business if he was not sacked.
Currently, minority MPs in Parliament have filed a censure motion which is seeking the removal of Ofori-Atta from office.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Thursday, November 10, 2022, announced an ad hoc committee to probe allegations in a vote of censure motion against the embattled Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The 8-member ad hoc committee was constituted of Members of Parliament elected by the leadership of both sides of the House.
Their main task is to probe the seven allegations contained in the censure motion filed late last month by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, which motion is seeking the removal of Ofori-Atta from office.
The committee is expected to submit a report within 7 days.
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Source: Trunewsreport
