Majority leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has launched a scathing attack on former Finance Minister , insisting that he must return to Ghana to account for his stewardship of the economy under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, June 17, Ayariga accused the former finance minister of fleeing the country after allegedly mismanaging the economy, and challenged the Minority caucus to fulfill earlier promises to bring him back to Ghana.
According to the Majority Leader, Ghanaians deserve answers from Ofori-Atta regarding decisions taken during his tenure as finance minister, particularly at a time when the current government is working to stabilize the economy.
“If you are able to get the former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to come back to Ghana and account for all that he has taken out of the country,” Ayariga stated during proceedings in Parliament.
He further reminded the Minority that they had previously assured the House that Ofori-Atta would return to the country.
“You promised us in this chamber that you will bring Ken Ofori-Atta to Ghana. We didn’t ask, but you promised us,” he stressed.
Ayariga claimed that the former finance minister had reportedly secured permanent residency in the United States and questioned why he had not returned home to address concerns surrounding his time in office.
“Now we are told that he has obtained permanent residency in the United States, a former finance minister running away from his country,” he said.
The Majority Leader argued that if Ofori-Atta believes he acted appropriately while in office, then he should voluntarily return to defend his record.
“If he has nothing to fear, he should man up and come back to this country and defend himself,” he declared.
Ayariga also took aim at the NPP, saying the party must be held accountable for presenting Ofori-Atta as finance minister during its time in government.
He argued that the former minister was entrusted with managing Ghana’s economy but ultimately left behind severe economic challenges.
“You presented him to this Parliament as your nominee for finance minister, and we approved him and gave him our economy to manage. He mismanaged it and ran away,” Ayariga charged.
The Bawku Central MP further suggested that the NPP should not seek political power again unless it ensures Ofori-Atta’s return to Ghana.
“And you want to go back to Ghanaians and ask them to give you power again so that you will bring another Ken Ofori-Atta to mismanage the economy and run to Europe? That’s what you want to do?” he questioned.
He maintained that Ghanaians must demand accountability from the opposition party before entrusting them with power again.
“Ghanaians must be asking the NPP not to even appear before them to ask for power unless they have brought Ken Ofori-Atta back to this country. We must have principles,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ayariga also touched on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s flagship “24-hour economy” policy, assuring the public that the administration remains committed to its implementation despite current economic constraints.
According to him, the initiative would be rolled out gradually as the economy continues to stabilize.
“After the one-week, three shifts, I can assure you that gradually we will get there. It doesn’t happen in one day. It’s a process, and we will get there,” he stated.
He expressed optimism that the government would soon create the conditions necessary for the full implementation of the policy.
“I believe that in the not-too-distant future, when the economy has been stabilized, we will get there,” Ayariga added.
By 1960news.com
