Source: newsthemegh.com
The minority in parliament requests that Ken Ofori-Atta, the finance minister, brief the chamber on Ghana’s rescue plan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
On May 19, 2023, Ghana received the first payment of $600 million from the IMF as part of a $3 billion, three-year extended credit facility to help the country’s faltering economy.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a member of parliament for North Tongu, stated on the floor of the legislature that Ofori-Atta, who is scheduled to appear in the chamber on Wednesday to address unanswered questions, should be requested to update the House on the IMF agreement.
“Mr. Speaker, I take note that the Finance Minister has been scheduled to respond to questions in the upcoming week, specifically on Wednesday. I did submit a request to the Majority Leader on Tuesday for the Finance Minister’s appearance and a briefing on the IMF program, and he responded that it would be taken into consideration. It would have occurred to me that since the Finance Minister will be available to answer questions the following week, why not make the most of his visit by having him brief the House on the IMF program?
I simply want to know if the majority leader and minister for parliamentary affairs have thought about or will think about that.
On his part, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, pledged to make attempts to discuss the issue with the Minister.
“I will try my best to address this reasonable concern, but I can only take action based on the Speaker’s instructions, and because the Speaker did not provide any, the request is in limbo.
But I did have some meetings with the Finance Minister this evening, and if they go well, they will be beneficial to us. I will follow up with him on Wednesday and, if possible, convey the House’s concerns to him.