Sacking Ofori-Atta not enough; size of gov’t must also be reduced – Bokpin
A lecturer of economics at the University of Ghana Business School, Prof. Godfred A. Bokpin has stressed that the demand for the removal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta isn’t enough to turn around the country’s economic woes.
Some Members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament have joined in the demand calling for his head and that of the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.
In light of the country’s current economic predicament, which has compelled government to seek support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) some Ghanaians, including opposition parties, have since mounted pressure on President Akufo-Addo to remove Mr. Ofori-Atta from office.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Ghana Economic Forum, on the demands by some Members of the New Patriotic Party for the Minister’s removal, the economics lecturer said much more needs to be done for the effects of Ofori-Atta’s dismissal to be felt in the economy.
Prof. Bokpin also said the large size of the government is partly to blame for what is currently being experienced because “if you look at their [State Owned Enterprises] staff strength, that have gone up since 2017, we are creating deputy CEOs and all of that.”
“That is not the only change we want. Beyond that, it will not amount to so much just changing the finance minister. We must go a step further and reduce the number of ministers and the government size overall, including the staff at the presidency. Beyond that, we must replicate that across state owned enterprises. If you look at their staff strength that has gone up since 2017, we are creating deputy CEOs and all of that. This is the best time for Ghana to look at Ghana and say what is tolerable and what cannot be allowed.
He instructively added that the government needs to put radical measures in place by cutting down on the numbers of people currently on government payroll in these hard times to curb the situation.
“We must adopt the lean government across the general government approach, not just the central government, but general government approach to doing business must adopt least cost approach. That is the only way we can come out of with this.”
Some sections of the society have mounted pressure on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to remove Mr. Ofori-Atta from office in light of the country’s current economic predicament, which has compelled government to seek support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Minority in Parliament has also filed a motion for a vote of censure against Ofori-Atta.
Source: Ghana Business
