President Akufo-Addo has unveiled significant changes to his ministerial team in a major cabinet reshuffle, responding to growing calls for a shake-up.
In a statement issued by the Presidency on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, President Akufo-Addo kicked the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta out of government.
This follows months of cries from members of the general public to fire Mr Ofori-Atta over the bad state of the Ghanaian economy. A group of NPP MPs in 2023 led the calls for the removal of the Finance Minister.
President Akufo-Addo noted that he would consider their request after the Minister secures an external credit facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It has been over nine months since Ghana secured its loan, and finally, President Akufo-Addo has answered the prayers of many Ghanaians.
But after his removal, there are unconfirmed reports indicating that the Finance Minister has been sacked in order to be selected as the running mate for the NPP flagbearer, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
“If I tell you Ken Ofori-Atta is going to be Dr. Bawumia’s running mate, Will you believe ? Well wait for the announcement,” a user asked.
Shortly after Dr Bawumia was elected flagbearer of the NPP in November 2023, a list purportedly unveiling a roster of individuals eyeing the Vice President slot emerged on social media.
The unverified compilation consisted of names like Chief of Staff, Frema Opare; Roads Minister, Kwasi Amoako Atta; Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu; Energy Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Napo), Education Minister, Yaw Osei Adutwum, among others.
It has been over two months, and Dr Bawumia is yet to announce his running mate ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Many have been in support of a Bawumia-Napo ticket in order to enable the NPP secure massive votes in the Ashanti Region, their stronghold.
President Nana Akufo-Addo is reportedly facing internal party pressures to accept Energy Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the running mate of choice for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
This is according to IMANI Africa’s Vice President, Bright Simons, who also asserts that the president is also allegedly dealing with growing calls from within the NPP for a possible ministerial reshuffle ahead of the upcoming elections.
The situation has sparked conversations about potential changes in key positions within the government.
Mr Simons, took to Twitter to highlight the growing tensions within the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). According to Simons, the President is being urged to consider specific actions:
- Sacrifice Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to strengthen Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s electoral standing.
- Accept Energy Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the running mate to Bawumia, despite facing resistance.
- Remove some top ministers perceived as distant from grassroots sentiments.
tigpost.co