Minister of Finance Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta has described calls for his removal as “warranted” in a democracy.
He, however, said he felt “battered and broken” by the calls.
But he admits that in a democracy everyone has “the freedom to express what they want”.
Mr Ofori-Atta expressed these sentiments over the weekend when he appeared on GTV’s Talking Point to discuss the mid-year budget review.
During his presentation of the review to Parliament on Monday, July 31, the Finance Minister described the year 2022 as the most difficult for him as a minister of state.
It was a year some New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members in Parliament (MPs) led by Asante Akim North MP Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to remove him from office over the declining economic conditions.
Later, the Minority filed a motion of censure, which was unsuccessful.
Asked how he felt during that period, Mr Ofori-Atta said: “A very difficult question for anyone to answer but you know, it’s always in a democracy, I think that is warranted.”
He, however, pointed out that he could not have abandoned the ship while things were difficult at that time and, ultimately, he had a President he answers to and he kept faith with him.
“More importantly, you were in a situation where you have described it and I said, so battered and broken and do you leave the ship at that time and given the urgency of ensuring that the IMF programme gets through so we can build confidence.
“When do you make that decision? Besides you also serve at the President’s pleasure and it’s up to him to decide on that.”
He later added: “So, the question becomes we all need to rethink what we wanted and for me it was a duty to serve. There was no running away from it and you have to bring back the sense of stability of turning the corner before you think of anything else.”
