Allow Ofori-Atta to finish IMF negotiations

President Akufo-Addo (Right) with Ken Ofori-Atta (Left).

President Akufo-Addo has requested additional time for the troubled Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to finish negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before any resignation discussions.

According to documents made accessible to JoyNews, a $3 billion balance of payment assistance agreement with the IMF may be finalised in three weeks.

The President worries that if Ken Ofori-Atta is fired or forced to quit, this might be disturbed.

This was the result of a discussion between President Akufo-Addo and NPP lawmakers over the call for the finance minister to be fired due to the way the economy was being handled.

Several attempts, according to several NPP MPs, to get the administration to address the problems facing their constituents' struggling economies have been ineffective.

Thus, on Tuesday, October 2022, they convened a news conference to express their unhappiness and seek the resignation of Charles Adu Boahen, the Minister of State for the Ministry of Finance, and Ken Ofori-Atta.

The unhappy Majority MPs group's spokesman and MP for Asante-Akim North, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, said to the media on Tuesday that, the dismissal of Ofori-Atta and Mr. Adu Boahen would assist boost trust in Ghana's economy.

“The recent development within the economy is of major concern to our caucus and our constituents. We have made our grave concern known to our president through the parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without any positive response,” he said.

“We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the president changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope to the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy,” he added.

The MPs left the meeting yesterday night displeased, as it was unable to satisfactorily resolve the matter.

It's uncertain whether they will follow through on their promise to halt government business in parliament.

President Akufo-Addo is still speaking with interest groups on the health of the economy in the meanwhile.

He is anticipated to meet with the Ghana Employers Association, Market Women, Ghana Journalist Association, Trades Union Congress, and other groups.