A Governance Expert, Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, has told President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to be circumspect in the exercise of his discretionary powers.
Although the constitution guarantees the president discretionary powers, he said, the president, in the exercise of this power should consider several factors.
Prof Ageymag Duah said this while reacting to the new role of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
Speaking in an interview with TV3’s Alfred Ocansey on the Key Points on Saturday, February 24, he said “Let me be clear on this, the president has not committed a crime by making this appointment, the president has not breached any law by making this appointment and therefore I think he used his powers in the constitution which the people have given him, the laws have given him these kinds of discretionary powers so he has done nothing wrong.
Nonetheless, in exercising that discretion, presidents are expected to be circumspect in making such decisions especially when there is a groundswell of public sentiments against this particular person. So it was important for the president to have considered the context of the changes that he was making.
“If you have relieved the man of his substantive appointment as Finance Minister and appointed his deputy in his place and then you turn around to make the former Minister your senior advisor and more importantly, special envoy on international finance and capital market, then it seems to me that the new role of Mr Ken Ofori-Atta could supersede the exercise of the power of the Finance Minister, because if you look at all these last seven years, the former Finance Minister has been quite prominent in the international capital market in managing our finances to the extent of borrowing and hitting the ceiling and Ghana being stopped from further borrowing on the international market.
If we still have some arrangements that he thinks he can do let, us face the facts, God forbid, if he is incapacitated, wouldn’t there be anybody to play that role? But more importantly, if the country is going to negotiate on the capital market or any financial dealings, will it be the Finance Minister [Amin Adam] who has the mandate to lead that charge or will it be the new special envoy [Ofori-Atta] who will have to lead the charge? So it seems like the new appointment somehow overshadows the role of substantive finance Minister, and given that the current Minister was his deputy over the years, it raises questions in terms of the comfort levels of the new minister in making certain changes or decisions. So it really complicates the role of the new ministers.”
Prof Baffuor Agyemang-Duah said the new role of Mr Ofori-Atta suggests that he will be dealing directly with the country’s international financial engagements, especially negotiations either for debt arrangements or new loans, something the new Finance Minister Dr Amin Adam should be doing.
“That position will seem to suggest that somehow, he is going to be dealing directly in the country’s international financial engagements, especially negotiations either for debt arrangements or new loans.
“The question is whether this is going to overshadow the work of the new Finance Minister because as the new Finance Minister he is leading the country in meeting our international obligations and negotiations on that, he should be the one to lead negotiation for new loans, but if Mr Ofori-Atta is going to be an envoy for international finance then that will suggest that somehow he will be playing a leading role,” he said.
OFORI-ATTA’S NEW PORTFOLIO: THIS APPOINTMENT MAY MUDDY THE WATERS FOR THE EFFECTIVE AND SMOOTH ADMINISTRATION OF THE NEW FINANCE MINISTER. – PROF BAFFOUR AGYEMAN-DUAH, GOVERNANCE EXPERT#GHANATONIGHT #TV3GH PIC.TWITTER.COM/WYKLYPBWGI
— #TV3GH (@TV3_GHANA) FEBRUARY 24, 2024
Mr Ofori-Atta has received a new portfolio in the Akufo-Addo administration following the much-anticipated reshuffling by the President.
In a letter dated February 15, 2024 and signed by the Chief of Staff, Frema Osei-Opare, the former Finance Minister has been appointed as Senior Presidential Advisor and Special Envoy for International Finance & Private Sector Investments.
“I am pleased to inform you that the President of the Republic has appointed you as the Senior Presidential Advisor and Special Envoy for International Finance and Private Sector Investments.
“I take this opportunity to congratulate you formally on your reassignment and wish you the very best in this new office.
“Please accept the President’s best wishes,” portions of the letter read.
Ken Ofori-Atta received the letter a day after the President announced the reshuffle of some cabinet ministers.
In his stead, Mohammed Amin Adam a former Deputy Energy Minister and Minister of State at the Presidency has been appointed as the finance minister.
Reacting to the appointment of his replacement, Mr Ofori-Atta described Amin Adam as a blessing for the future of Ghana.
“The future is here with us as we are blessed with a new leader, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, who replaced the venerable Charles Adu Boahen and has been with us through some of the most difficult times. Let us all circle the wagons and ensure a blazing success for his stewardship,” Ken Ofori-Atta indicated in a release.
The former Minister of Finance continued, “We all know him as a smart, humble and inclusive leader. Let me state with all humility that nothing would honour me and the ‘Office of the Minister’ more than for you to work with renewed diligence to guide Hon. Amin and our nation to the successful execution of the IMF-ECF programme to promote economic growth and transformation.”