Ofori-Atta censure: Will NPP MPs defy party order to abstain?

The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has warned its Members of Parliament to abstain from a scheduled vote of censure being sought by the Minority Caucus against Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister for Finance.

Though NPP MPs demanding the removal of Ofori-Atta from office have an opportunity to take part in a vote of censure to achieve the same objective but the party says no way.

A statement issued by Justin Kodua Frimpong, General Secretary of NPP said the decision was taken after broader consultations and engagements with stakeholders, has resolved and hereby directs all members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament to abstain from the vote.

By this directive, the statement said the leadership of the Majority Caucus especially; the Whips are to ensure that no Member of the Majority Caucus takes part in this exercise by the Minority Group in Parliament.

According to the NPP General Secretary, while the National Executive body acknowledges the prevailing socio-economic conditions in the country and the need for urgent remedial interventions, it is their utmost position that the demand of the NDC-led Minority Caucus is ill-intended and aimed at derailing government’s efforts at resolving current socio-economic upheavals.

“The leadership acknowledges that the Minister for Finance is the leader of government’s negotiation team with the International Monetary Fund.

“Considering that negotiation with the IMF is nearly completed, the National Executive body of the Party strongly believes that the removal of the lead person spearheading the negotiation may adversely impact the progress made thus far.

“It is worth noting that when similar calls were made for the head of Mr. Seth Tepker, the then Minister for Finance during the socio-economic turbulence under the erstwhile Mahama administration in 2015, the NDC-led Majority Caucus objected to those calls and rose to the defence of Mr. Tekper, a clear indication that the NDC lacks credibility on this matter,” he said.

Accordingly, he said neither the NPP nor its MPs will lend support to this mischievous move by the NDC legislators as it is one of their many ill-motivated and self-serving but unpatriotic moves to sabotage the NPP government and frustrate the administration of the country.

“The leadership of the NPP wishes to assure our Members of Parliament and the Ghanaian populace that there are ongoing internal engagements aimed at addressing legitimate concerns expressed by various stakeholders regarding the management of the economy, including calls for the resignation or dismissal of the Minister for Finance,” it said.