Ofori-Atta is more powerful than Akufo-Addo – Murtala Mohammed

Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed says the embattled Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta is untouchable in the current NPP administration.

He claimed the President himself bows before his cousin (Finance Minister)— the reason he can never sack him despite the numerous calls for his head.

Reacting to the recent changes in government, the lawmaker indicated that the NPP MPs who wanted the embattled minister removed will never be given any position by the President.

“That man is more powerful than the President. He is the most powerful person in this government… Ken Ofori-Atta is the most powerful person in this government,” Murtala alleged, as quoted by Pulse Ghana.

Speaking directly to Mr. Andy Kwame Appaih-Kubi, MP for Asante Akyem North and leader of the 'Ken Must Go' group of NPP MPs on Wednesday, February 8, Murtala said, “They won’t make you (a minister) because of your opposition against Ken Ofori-Atta.”

Meanwhile, the “Ken Must Go” MPs have resumed their calls for the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta from the Finance Ministry.

They said it is time for the President to fullfil the promise he made to them when asked them to wait until after the 2023 budget proposal and the IMF bailout negotiations before he can take a decision.

Speaking on Accra-based TV3, the leader of the rebel NPP MPs said, “The indications were not exactly the total conclusion of the IMF (programme). The road maps were the passing of the budget, the approval of the appropriation and the conclusion of the first phase of the IMF negotiations which we have reached already because we have reached conclusion at Staff-LeveL.

“So, for all that happened at negotiations, we have delivered as one party as Members of Parliament and it is up to the president to also deliver as a contracting party."

“As far as I am concerned, all three milestones have been achieved … we have reached our end of the milestone, we expect the president to also do same,” he added.