Anti-corruption advocate Vitus Azeem has strongly criticized former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, holding him responsible for economic hardships caused by policies implemented during his tenure.

His comments come as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) names Ofori-Atta as a suspect in an ongoing investigation into financial misconduct.

Speaking on Citi FM on Thursday, February 13, Mr Azeem argued that the former minister’s policies inflicted severe financial distress on both the nation and individuals.

“This former finance minister did a lot of harm not only to Ghana as a nation but also to individuals. The haircuts and the banking sector cleanups actually negatively affected people,” he stated.

He highlighted the devastating impact on pensioners and others whose finances were severely disrupted.

“People have lost their lives, pensioners have gotten their money locked up and cannot use it for anything, and when you hear that these monies were wrongly taken, it is very painful,” he lamented.

Vitus Azeem reiterated the financial struggles of pensioners who have been unable to access their savings due to government policies under Ofori-Atta’s leadership.

“Pensioners have gotten their money locked up, they cannot use it for anything,” he stressed.

While backing the Special Prosecutor’s investigation, Mr Azeem criticised the delay in holding Ofori-Atta accountable.

“For me, I think the Special Prosecutor has moved in the right direction because he’s taken too long, although I will say that he delayed a bit by allowing him to leave the country,” he noted.

The OSP’s probe is expected to shed further light on the financial decisions made during Ofori-Atta’s tenure and their impact on Ghana’s economic stability.