Pressure group, the Ashanti Youth Network has called on the leadership of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to punish the Asante Akyem North Member of Parliament Kwame Andy Appiah-Kubi and the rest of the NPP lawmakers who held a press conference to publicly call for the sacking of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.
The group said the action of the MPs is not only a grand scheme to denigrate the president, but also a well-crafted agenda to collapse the regime.
“In all truth, we’re startled by the conduct of the MPs who held a press conference to impress on the President to relieve his Finance Minister of the responsibility of managing the national purse or risk losing their support for government business going forward.
“We’re also surprised that this group of MPs also want the Minister of State in charge of Finance at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, out of government. Having come to the full realization of the intent of Andy Appiah Kubi and his gang, we are of the view that this is not only a grand scheme to denigrate the president, but also a well-crafted agenda to collapse the regime.
“We know Andy Appiah Kubi and his group are disgruntled and they’re obviously out to dent the image of the NPP and subject it to public ridicule. Otherwise, what else could possibly be the motivation of this perfidious and parochial call?
“Indeed, if not for self-centeredness and self-aggrandizement, why would any good party folk in the NPP make such illogical call for the removal of the Finance Minster at this material hour, when the country is in talks with the International Monetary Fund(IMF) for balance of payment solutions? This is as an act of treachery, hypocrisy and self-harm, and anyone not deeply concerned by such a stance, could be part of the problem.
“The conduct of these MPs does not meet the standard required of a party representatives, and the Ashanti Youth Network is specifically calling them out for censure. While dedicated youths are busy in the trenches battling to ensure the NPP retain power in 2024, these self-styled rabble rousers are sitting in their cubicle somewhere planning or rather positioning themselves to cause damage to the party.
“Ashanti Youth Network sees this call on the removal of the Finance Minister and the Minister of state, Adu Boahen as a collective idea of those who want to bring the name of the NPP into disrepute. We call them political merchandisers of the 21st century; they are not patriots. Ingratitude is the perfect adjective that describes Andy Appiah Kubi, his cohort and their attitude towards the President and party that brought them into political prominence.
“Let it be known to them that the President reserve the right to appoint and disappoint. It is his prerogative to remove any of his ministers whenever he deems necessary. Again, we commend the decent members of the majority bench for not falling prey to the devices of the lunatic fringe. We request the leadership of NPP to look into the gross disrespect that has been inflicted on the foundation of the party and hope that they will call Andy Appiah Kubi and his gang of desperados to order.
“We cannot neglect the dire consequences this may have on our noble party’s history and the upcoming elections, if we do nothing to redress this impertinence,” a statement signed by Kwaku Boateng, Chair of the group said.
The Majority caucus in Parliament threatened to boycott the presentation and debate on the 2023 budget statement if President Akufo-Addo does not remove Mr Ofori-Atta and Adu Boahen.
The NPP MPs believe that the prevailing economic situation in the country does not make it right for the two gentlemen to remain in office hence the President must ask them to go.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, October 25, Mr Andy Appiah Kubi said “We are unhappy with the developments in the country, we consulted our constituents who also expressed same sentients.
“We want the President to remove Ken Ofori and Chares Adu Boahen.
“We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the President changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State in the Finance Ministry without further delay.
“We want to serve notice, and notice is hereby served that until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the Majority Caucus here in Parliament will not participate in any business of Government by or, for the president by any other Minster.
“We hope that those of us in the back bench and members of the Majority caucus will abide by this prayer.
“We are saying that if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing neither will we participate in the debate.
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana