President Akufo-Addo says there is no basis for him to sack the Finance Minister.
According to him, Ken Ofori-Atta has discharged his duties “excellently” and he cannot relieve such a person of his position.
President Akufo-Addo speaking on OTEC FM on Monday said he has full confidence in the Minister who is his cousin.
He insisted that Ofori-Atta cannot be blamed for the current economic woes the country is facing.
I came to office in 2017 under a stringent IMF programme. This same man was able to manage the affairs of our economy in such a way that in my first term, we were one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
“An average growth rate of 7% which allowed us to initiate programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs. So somebody who has been able to do that. The current difficulties are not his fault. So how do I do it (sack him)? What will be the basis? What will be the rationale.”
President Akufo-Addo thus said calls for him to sack the Minister is unjustified.
If we were to say he didn’t do well in the first term, then why did I renominate him for my second term? So for me, their performance in my first time was excellent. Let me use that word. Excellent,” he added.
Some Ghanaians have called on the President to relieve the Minister of his duties due to the poor state of the Ghanaian economy.
Ghana is currently seeking support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stay the economy afloat, but despite the gloom, President Akufo Addo insists he will keep the Finance Minister.
Meanwhile, the Ghanaian cedi exchanged for ¢12 to $1 in many places on Friday, selling at ¢12.10 at most forex bureaux or the retail market.
This development comes within a week after the cedi earlier depreciated against the dollar.
Meanwhile, scores of Ghanaians have taken to social media to bemoan the situation; urging the government to take urgent steps to address the persistent depreciation of the country’s currency.
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