By Cooper Inveen
ACCRA – Ghana’s finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta mentioned on Friday he was “really sorry” for the nation’s financial hardship however defended himself in opposition to accusations by lawmakers that he's unfit for the job.
Ofori-Atta has been criticised for his dealing with of what has develop into Ghana’s worst financial disaster in a era. This comes at a time when he's main negotiations with the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) for a aid bundle of as much as $3 billion.
The Ghanaian cedi has plummeted greater than 40% this 12 months, straining importers of each uncooked and processed supplies. Client inflation hit a 21-year excessive of 40.4% in October on the again of hovering import prices.
In opposition to this backdrop, the embattled minister is dealing with censure with lawmakers from each main political events calling for his elimination from workplace. Ofori-Atta defended himself in opposition to a raft of criticism in his first public feedback on the matter.
Final week, parliament arrange a committee to research opposition allegations that Ofori-Atta has been benefiting from Ghana’s financial woes by means of unlawful funds and unethical contracts, amongst different fees.
The minister mentioned he was involved in regards to the West African nation’s woes, however added that the accusations had been unfounded.
“The individuals of Ghana are enduring hardships. I really feel the ache personally, professionally and in my soul,” Ofori-Atta mentioned.
He mentioned that by the tip of the listening to, the “unfounded doubts about my motives, my competence and my character would have been dispelled”.
Ofori-Atta additionally mentioned he had at all times served the nation with “integrity and honesty”.
He denied claims that he had misreported financial information to parliament and that his insurance policies had been in charge for the cedi’s steep decline.
“The concept the depreciation of the cedi is a results of fiscal danger and recklessness will not be supported by the obtainable details,” mentioned Ofori-Atta.
He mentioned negotiations with the IMF had been progressing nicely.
“We're practically by means of the IMF negotiations. We’re working assiduously to attain a employees degree settlement by the tip of December 2022.”
Requires Ofori-Atta’s elimination have been a central theme of latest avenue protests, and greater than half of his personal celebration’s lawmakers have publically known as for his elimination.
Nevertheless, the ruling celebration MPs, in contrast to the opposition, have agreed to droop their requires the minister’s dismissal till after he concludes negotiations with the IMF.
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