The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sagnarigu, Alhassan Bashir Alhassan Fuseini, has said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision to replace Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance, is long overdue.

The President on Wednesday, February 14, announced a major cabinet reshuffle relieving 13 Ministers, including the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta of their duties.

Mr. A.B.A Fuseini speaking to the press at Parliament House in Accra, said with about 10 months to the end of the President’s second term, the reshuffle would achieve very little or nothing at all.

“Even this reshuffle, many people are saying it should have come about two years ago when the competence of the Finance Minister was brought to the fore, not just by we, the Minority but even by the Majority itself,” Mr Fuseini said.

“By then there was a clear sign that the economy was heading towards a crash. It was being driven into a ditch due to the reckless borrowing of the Minister. It was very clear……”

He alleged that it being rumored that the outgoing Finance Minister was now a Senior Advisor on Finance to the President; adding that anybody who would be the finance minister, would still have to seek clearance from Mr Ofori-Atta.

Background

President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, relieved 13 Ministers and 10 deputies of their duties with immediate effect, in a massive government shake up. 

Ministers affected are Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta, Interior Minister Ambrose Dery, Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu, Environment, Science, and Technology Minister Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and Roads and Highways Minister Kwasi, Amoako-Atta. 

The rest are Works and Housing Minister Francis Asenso Boakye; Gender, Children, and Social Protection Minister Lariba Abudu; Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Minister Dan Botwe; Sanitation and Water Resources Minister Freda Prempeh; Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Ibrahim Ahmed Awal; Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey; and Oti Regional Minister Joseph Makubu.