Removing Ofori-Atta won’t solve any problem – Kwesi Pratt

Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Mr Kwesi Pratt has said removing the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta from office will not solve any problem in the country.

That he said was because the minister does not work in isolation but on the direction and collaboration of cabinet chaired by the President.

For that reasons the current economic woes is the collective responsibility of cabinet, the President, Mr Ofori-Atta and all other members of cabinet inclusive.

Mr Pratt was speaking on Good Morning Africa on Pan African TV on Thursday, November 10, monitored by GhanaPlus.com

“I don’t think the removal of the Finance Minister will solve any problem, I don’t think so. Everything the Finance Minister has implemented so far, at least at the level of theory has been at the direction of cabinet and the President,” Mr Pratt said.

“It will be strange if you have the situation where the Finance Minister alone was deciding on economic policies and deciding on economic measures and implementing them that will be worst done a banana republic; I don’t think we have gotten there. These matters go to cabinet for a decision and therefore, cabinet chaired by the President is collectively responsible for what is happening,” the celebrated media personality said.

Our problem is a structural problem – Kwesi Pratt

He however, noted the country’s current problem is a structural problem and nobody, not even angels can change turn the fortunes of the country it the structural deficiencies are not addressed.

“….. Besides, I believe firmly that what is happening is a reflection of structuring economic problem and if we don’t resolve that problem, we can bring the Angel Gabriel to the Finance Ministry as Finance Minister, nothing will happen,” Mr Pratt mentioned.

Minority to pass a vote of censure against Ofori-Atta, Majority won’t support

Mr Pratt was reacting to the Minority’s decision to pass a vote censure to remove the Finance Minister today, November 10 and the subsequent decision by the Majority caucus not to take part in the vote despite their earlier ultimatum and call for his removal by the President.

The Minority group in Parliament is bent on removing the Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta following the country’s economic difficulties which began early this year.

They have cited despicable conflict of interest, unconstitutional withdrawal from the consolidated fund, illegal payment of oil revenue into offshore accounts, deliberate and dishonest misrepresentation of economic figures to Parliament, fiscal recklessness leading to the crash of the Ghana Cedi, alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude as well as gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy as their reasons.

The Majority group also earlier asked the Finance Minister to resign or be forced out of office by the President but have gone into agreement with the President to hold on their demand until Mr Ofori-Atta concludes negotiations for the country’s bail out programme with the International Monetary Fund.

Source: GhanaPlus.com