ACCRA, Oct 25 (Reuters) – A majority of parliamentarians in Ghana’s ruling party called on the president on Tuesday to fire Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and his deputy, to “restore hope in the financial sector.”
Speaking on behalf of 80 of the 137 members of the NPP, Andy Appiah-Kubi said members of parliament would not participate in any government business and would boycott budget hearings until their demands are met.
Parliament will start debating the budget in the coming days.
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“We have expressed our concerns to the president … without any positive response,” Appinah-Kubi said. “Until these people resign or are removed from office, we will not engage in any government business.”
Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, already faces a hung parliament, with members split in half between the two main parties. Even individual abstentions often prevent ruling party proposals from becoming law.
Ghana is currently negotiating a loan program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to try to ease the economic hardships that spurred the street protests. Ofori-Atta had repeatedly pledged not to ask the IMF for help before hiring the Fund in July.
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Reporting by Christian Akorlie and Cooper Inveen; Written by Sofia Christensen Editing by James Macharia Chege and Bate Felix
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