Ofori-Atta grew more powerful than Akufo-Addo; he was excessively pompous—Appiah-Kubi.

Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, has disclosed the motivating motives behind many Majority MPs’ efforts to oust Ken Ofori-Atta from his post as Finance Minister. In an interview with TV3’s Key Points show, Appiah-Kubi said that their calls for Ofori-Atta’s departure were mostly motivated by his perceived arrogance and growing authority inside the government.

Appiah-Kubi stated that Ofori-Atta’s growing power caused anxiety among many MPs, as it appeared to outweigh that of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. He stated that this power imbalance was one of the primary elements driving calls for the Finance Minister’s dismissal. “Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta became too arrogant. “He was more powerful than the President and Vice President, which is why we wanted him out,” Appiah-Kubi stated.

Calls to remove Ofori-Atta are not new. In 2022, Appiah-Kubi, along with over 90 other MPs, requested that Ofori-Atta be sacked owing to worsening economic situations, which were exacerbated by downgrades from foreign rating agencies. With inflation and the cost of living growing, many MPs felt their constituents were suffering and expected the government to take more drastic measures.

Despite mounting criticism, President Akufo-Addo supported Ofori-Atta, causing substantial debate within the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Some critics say that the president’s failure to remove the Finance Minister undermined the party and contributed to its dismal showing in the 2024 presidential election.

Following the NPP’s defeat in the December 7 polls, many have cited the Finance Minister’s continuing tenure as a possible factor in the party’s loss. The refusal to act on the concerns of the MPs and the public led to a schism inside the party, which many feel contributed to the NPP’s electoral troubles.

source; modernghana