The Minority caucus in Parliament has slated Thursday, November 10, 2022, to move its vote of censure motion against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

This comes after the Speaker admitted the motion filed by the minority group on Tuesday, October 25, to censure Ken Ofori-Atta over the country's current economic hardship.

The group accused the minister of a despicable conflict of interest in ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantages, particularly from Ghana’s debt overhang.

Among other things, Mr Ofori-Atta is also accused of making unconstitutional withdrawals

from the Consolidated Fund, supposedly for the construction of the president’s cathedral.

Addressing the Parliamentary press corps on Friday,  the Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, blamed the current hardship on the poor management of Ghana’s economy by the Minister.

According to him, the country has lost confidence in Ofori-Atta's ability to manage the economy and he, therefore, should be stripped of his post.

But before the legislative arms of government can impeach the Finance Minister, Article 81 (1) of the 1992 Constitution states that “Parliament may, by a solution supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members of Parliament, pass a vote of censure on a Minister of State.”

As such, the minority group needs 180 MPs to pass a vote of censure on Ken Ofori Atta.

The minority group, with the exception of MP Assin North, who is battling a dual citizenship court case, has 136 MPs., while the majority in parliament has 137MPs including an independent candidate.

This means that the minority will need support from some MPs on the majority side.

Already, 80 majority MPs have called for the sacking of Mr Ofori-Atta and also that of the Deputy Finance Minister, Charles Boahen.

This means the finance minister may be on his way out if the 80 majority legislators follow

through with their demand.

With almost a hung parliament, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim has sent a word of caution to all the 136 NDC MPs to be present in Parliament in order to oust the minister from office.

“All 136 minority MPs must be in the chamber on Thursday, so any member who absents himself does so at his own risk.”

If a vote of censure is successfully passed against the Finance Minister, President Akufo-Addo would be compelled to revoke the appointment of Mr Ofori-Atta.

Mr Ofori-Atta, however, has a right to defend his case as the parliament decides his.

Source: The Independent Ghana