The Lawyer for the Finance Minister in the ongoing censure motion hearing, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has pleaded with the 8-member committee to furnish him with documents supporting the allegations against his client.

He revealed that his legal counsel does not have the full particulars of the evidence provided by the minority group in parliament pushing for the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta.

He is of the view that the documents provided to the ad-hoc committee by the minority group will enable his client better assess the allegations based on which his removal is being pushed for.

Failure to provide a detailed document, he says will be tantamount to ambushing Ken Ofori-Atta.

“It would not be fair for the Minister of Finance to be ambushed right here without any preparation to start answering questions. All we are asking for in the interest of justice is that we should be furnished with the full particulars of the facts in support of each of the allegations contained in the letter and then the supporting documents,” Mr. Otchere-Darko said.

Background

On October 25, 2022, the Minority in Parliament filed a censure motion against Mr Ken Ofori-Atta.

The minority group, among others, accused the Finance Minister of acting outside the powers of the office and largely blamed him for the country’s current economic woes.

Following a heated debate in Parliament over the vote of censure, Speaker Alban Bagbin instituted an ad hoc committee to be co-chaired by MP for Bolga East, Dominic Ayine and Adansi-Asokwa legislator, Kobina Tahir Hammond to look into the matter.

Other members of the committee include North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Klottey-Korle, the Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, and Okaikoi North MP, Emmanuel Ahiaku, from the Minority side.

Representatives from the majority side are Okaikwei Central MP, Yaw Boamah, Asante-Akim Central legislator, Kwame Anyimadu- Antwi, and Sekondi MP, Egyapa Mercer. The clerk to the committee is Mr Boamah Camilo, the Speaker added.

The Speaker said that following the procedure, a report would be brought before the House for a vote.

Source: The Independent Ghana