The Dean of the School of Business at the University of Cape Coast, Professor John Gartchie Gatsi says the removal of Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta from the office would not boost investor confidence in the Ghanaian economy as expected.
According to him, the new ministers involved in the reshuffle have the mandate to only execute policies the outgoing ministers have begun rather than implementing new ones.
On February 14, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced major changes to his ministerial team after several calls for a shakeup.
As part of the reshuffle, Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta has been replaced by the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Mohammed Amin Adam.
Ken Ofori Atta has been the Finance Minister of Ghana since 2017.
While some Ghanaians have criticized him for poor performance, others have described him as the man behind Ghana’s deteriorating economy.
Although Ghanaians expect a significant improvement in the economy after Ken Ofori Atta’s removal, Professor Gatsi believes the reshuffle is an election strategy by the current administration.
“We have already passed the budget, so you are not supposed to implement what is not in the budget…So those people who are coming, they are barely coming to occupy the position to perhaps execute the agenda of the government, in line with the election strategy that they have,” he said in an interview on TV3.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah says President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s ministerial Shafo is an exercise in futility as it would have no impact on the economy.
To him, the president had a real missed opportunity with the changes that were required when the people of Ghana demanded it.
Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah emphasized saying “When it was obvious that the changes were important to redeem what was left of this very disgraceful government, President Akufo-Addo refused. He even came out publicly to say nobody was going to push him. But it was very critical at the time.”
Majority Chief Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh, on the contrary, says the changes will augment the party’s fortunes in the next elections.
He emphasized the government’s focus on strategies to ensure a positive impact, particularly to win the upcoming election.
Frank Annoh Dompreh expressed a commitment to employing credible methods and alternatives to achieve their objectives in the political landscape.
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Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
