Ken Ofori-Atta served as the previous finance minister
Economist, Professor Lord Mensah has endorsed the decision by the government to hold appointees of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government accountable, commending the Office of Special Prosecutor over its decision to prosecute former Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta.
Prof Mensah is convinced that holding Ofori-Atta accountable for his actions is a key step in enhancing transparency and accuracy in governance.
Prof Mensah highlighted that demanding accountability from the former finance minister will send a strong warning to new appointees to work effectively with due diligence.
“Gone were the days it looked like we left people to freely walk around so anybody could do his own thing. It sends a good signal to the investor community.
“Any minister that comes to hold a portfolio and does not manage well tends to make decisions on his own without necessarily looking at the public interest, I believe that person should be held responsible.
“Finance, law and economics go together. In any environment where laws don’t work, where people are not punished for their financial misappropriations, investments don’t thrive.
He stressed that, once Ofori-Atta is held accountable for his action, it will open up the market and create an environment where investments can confidently thrive to promote the financial status of the country.
“Once he [Ken Ofori-Atta] can account for it and we all come to terms with what transpired as far as his decisions are concerned, it opens up to the market. The market thrives on openness,” he remarked.
“Ghana should commit to demonstrating transparency, accountability and good governance for growth and economic development. This will also ensure law enforcement in the country and bring about the understanding that everybody is equal to the law not above it,” he said.
Ken Ofori-Atta was recently listed as a wanted individual by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) concerning four significant corruption inquiries, which include cases involving the National Cathedral project, and Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML), among others.
Nonetheless, his name was subsequently taken off the wanted list after his legal representatives notified the OSP that he would be returning to Ghana in May 2025.
MKA/EK