Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, a Governance Lecturer at Central University, has fervently appealed to Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to annouce his resignation before the ad-hoc parliamentary Commitee probing the censure motion filed against him.
The Minister is currently at the public hearing of the motion of censure by the Committee which is being telecast live on national television.
Delivering his opening remarks, the Minister has apologized to Ghanaians over their disappointment in him and the Akufo-Addo administration.
"Everything we have sought to do was to make the life of the Ghanaian better. We have been focused on this vision to improve lives and in the first 4 years, our efforts were leading to the realization of the vision," he said.
He acknowledged "that our economy is facing difficulties and the people of Ghana are enduring hardships" and that he feels "the pain".
"As the person President Akufo-Addo has put in charge of this economy, I feel the pain personally, professionally and in my soul. I see and feel the terrible impact of rising prices of goods and services on the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Ghanaians.
"I feel the stress of running a business, but it is the strength and perseverance of the Ghanaian people that inspire me and my colleagues in government every morning. That is what gives me the strength to press on to find solutions and relief for Ghanaians to the myriad of problems that our country and the rest of the world are facing especially since March 2020," he added.
" . . let me use this opportunity to say to the Ghanaian people what I believe, with courage, every Finance Minister around the world may wish to say to their people now. I am truly sorry!", he asserted.
But Dr. Otchere-Ankrah has called on him to relieve Ghanaians by telling them "he has resigned".
He noted that the Minister has accomplished a lot for himself and it is time for him to "go and rest" to save his image and reputation.
"Sometimes, we need a fresh blood . . . Sometimes, we just need a new face to give us assurance," he emphasized.
"Is he happy with the criticisms about him?", he questioned the Minister.
He stressed "if the President doesn't want to sack him, he should dismiss himself. It will help him. He should save his own image".
Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah made these comments on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show Friday morning.
Meanwhile, the Committee probe is ongoing with the Minister answering a barrage of questions bordering on the allegations leveled against him.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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In all these the fact remains that the good people of Ghana have lost confidence in the finance minister. If the minister still believes it's not necessarily his making that Ghanaians are going through hard times and yet still the people feel he should go, so be it. At times change is good. If a new finance minister takes over and the challenges still persist, Ken Ofori Atta would have been vindicated. Even world class footballers such as Messi, Ronaldo, Salah, Mane, Halland are sometimes substituted in match not because of injury but someone else should also bring in his skills to the field . I doubt whether Ghanaians will change their minds. Nobody is asking the president to sack the finance minister. Just reshuffle him to another ministry, that's all. The larger national interest reigns supreme in this matter. Under Kufuor, Akuffo Addo was moved from the attorney general and Justice ministry to the ministry of foreign affairs. Is Akuffo Addo saying president kufour got it wrong?
After hearing Ken today, I think these calls for hassock are baseless and borne out of a personal dislike for the man. There is no proper basis for the call.
@stephen stop the no.on.sen.se. Is Ofori-Atra the only brain to manage Ghana? How many coaches have ManU sacked within 3yrs? The country is not working. Thankfully you Ofori-Atta have DataBank Group and Enterprise Group so you have “food” to eat. Even UK Prime Minister less than 2months was sacked. How about the UK Finance Minister? The country is a mess. 90 NPP MPs are demanding you are sacked. 6yrs you couldn't do anything so WHAT is he going to do in 2yrs. Ask yourself, which poorly performing Minister of any serious Country or Manager of any serious Company can come and tell Shareholders who are demanding his sack that “SORRY” I feel your pain but let me continue fo.oli.ng small? Does it make sense that such a person negotiated with IMF on our behalf. Let's be serious. Do you think even in NPP Ofori-Atta is the only person who can ***barred word*** Ghana's economy like this? C'mon, if it's try your luck s3f let another come to try thier luck.
I pity such comments I wonder if such characters appreciate Ghana's situation very well. Resignation for the sake of it? How many of you guys are competent enough to manage Ghana out of this internationally infected economic problem. I see such comments asking the finance minister to resign as mischievous and needless