According to Ahmed Ibrahim, the deputy minority whip, his party has already submitted a motion of censure against Ken Ofori-Atta, the finance minister.
At a news conference in Parliament on Tuesday, the Banda Ahenkro MP stated that discussions about the vote of censure against Mr. Ofori-Atta have already started between the Majority and Minority leaders.
“The Honourable Haruna Iddrisu said it in a business committee yesterday. The motion is ready, he did not want to surprise the Majority Leader,” Mr. Banda said.
In a related event, a number of New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmakers are calling for Ken Ofori-Atta to be removed as finance minister.
The MPs, who number over 80, staged a news conference on Tuesday to persuade the President to abdicate his cousin’s oversight of the nation’s finances or else risk losing their support for future government initiatives.
They also want Charles Adu Boahen, the Minister of State in charge of Finance in the Ministry of Finance, to suffer a similar fate.
The Minority pointed out that the Majority MPs’ call should go beyond simple wailing.
Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim emphasized that since all parties are now in agreement, Ken Ofori-Atta’s dismissal should be easily approved by a two-thirds vote.
Reacting to the Majority MPs call for Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta to be sacked, the Banda MP noted that “we (Minority) do not want to take this their press briefing as a deflation to our motion.”
“Now they have shown indication that they also do not want the Finance Minister. So now it is a clear indication that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has to go,” he added.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the majority leader, says it is “intriguing” that the Minority Leader has announced the filing of a motion when Speaker Bagbin has not yet acknowledged it.
He claims that the Minority is coercing the Speaker against his will to admit a motion.
“It is intriguing to hear the Minority Leader give an indication that he is filing a motion. If you have filed a motion, with the greatest respect the admissibility of a motion lies with the Speaker. How do you come and speak to it when the Speaker has not admitted it?” Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu quizzed.
Adam Ibrahim
Adam is passionate about politics and issues that affect governance. As a writer, he channels his energies into writing on pertinent national and political issues for the good of the Ghanaian people.