Former President John Mahama has asked President Akufo-Addo to take hold of the Economic Management Team to help boost confidence in the economy.

He said the Chairman of the Economic Management Team (EMT), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the Finance Minister have failed. 

Due to this, he wants President Akufo-Addo to reconstitute Economic Management Team and chair it himself. 

“The president must not only replace his Finance Minister; he must also reconstitute and take control of the Economic Management Team himself,” he said in an address on Thursday, October 27, dubbed  “Building the Ghana We Want.”

Mr Mahama also backed calls for the dismissal of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

He insisted the state of the economy makes the Finance Minister’s position untenable.

“I’ve noted the draft motion of censure by the Minority against the Minister of Finance and the recent rebellion of G95 group (95 Majority Members of Parliament) calling for the removal of the minister.

“I’ve also noted the statement of the Majority Leader of a so-called compromise reached that the minister will leave after he has completed the budget and the IMF negotiations.”

According to him, the negotiations are done with a team and not just one person. 

“I think this is untenable. Budget preparation and IMF negotiations are the results of teamwork. They are not the work of one individual. 

I fail to see how the absence of the minister will affect the preparation of the budget and the negotiation with the International Monetary Fund. 

There surely must be persons with the requisite experience in the NPP to carry on this work. After all, what happened to the mantra we have the men?”