How can a person who led us into an economic crisis be a special envoy – Kwame Pianim questions Ofori-Atta’s new role

Renowned Ghanaian economist, Kwame Pianim has kicked against the appointment of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta as Senior Presidential Advisor and Special Envoy for International Finance and Private Sector Investments.

Speaking to Joy News, the economist who is also a leading figure in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) questioned how a former Minister who led the country into an economic crisis could be a special envoy.

"Ken Ofori-Atta going is good for the optics. But the person who led us into the financial and economic crisis that we are in, we haven't been here before... there has never been a time where Ghana has not been able to pay its bills and we are not going to start paying them until 2025 and this is the same guy who gets us kicked out of the Eurobond market, how can he be an envoy?” Kwame Pianim asked.

READ MORE: Akufo-Addo appoints Ken Ofori-Atta as senior presidential advisor, special envoy for international finance

Renowned economist Kwame Pianim continued, "I think Nana (President Akufo-Addo) knows that the international community are not that gullible so you don't send him there. We don't have an economy now, so what is he going to advise on?”

Meanwhile, Kwame Pianim has recommended that the number of appointees to the presidency should be cut down.

According to him, there are too many appointees in the presidency who are not making any significant contribution.

"Too many people are walking around the Presidency. Let's remove them. Both governments when they come, they remove a minister and he becomes special adviser at the presidency. We don't want that," Mr. Pianim said.