The former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyepong, has expressed the opinion that the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, should have resigned after deciding to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Mr. Agyepong believes that in situations of failure, individuals in positions of responsibility should exhibit humility and step down. He pointed out that Ofori-Atta initially stated that Ghana would not seek assistance from the IMF, but later reversed this stance within a few weeks, opting for a bailout to address the challenges facing the economy.

During an interview on Starr FM, Mr. Agyepong argued that in a properly functioning democracy, such actions should warrant a resignation.

He expressed disagreement with the President's decision to refrain from taking action and instead retain the Finance Minister in his position.

“He [Ofori-Atta] had stood in front of all Ghanaians and said that we were not going to the IMF and did a full U-turn in a couple of weeks. And I said in any decent democracy you stand down as a person. He chose not to go and I disagree with the President for not taking the action to let him go.

“Months down the line the MPs, how many of them 88 [MPs called for his resignation] so I wasn’t wrong. I was just having that foresight, months down the line. So these are difficult things that as Ghanaians as party people we have to deal with,” Mr. Agyepong said.

He continued: “Again it is important that we have the humility that we have been through a lot of difficulties, difficult times, and challenges. Although the government has delivered on several fronts there are other fronts that we have struggled with.”

Mr. Agyepong also clarified that he does not harbor any personal animosity towards the Minister for Finance.

“Sometimes, people create the impression that I have an issue with him but I don’t.”