Akufo-Addo To Ofori-Atta: Put Economy On Sound Footing

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has charged the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to put the country’s economy on a sound footing despite the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Speaking during the swearing in ceremony of Ofori-Atta at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, Akufo-Addo said the ravages of COVID-19 on the Ghanaian economy are obvious for all to see.

However, he said Ghanaians are looking up to his administration to revive the economy in a post-COVID-19 period.

“Everyone who watched him (Ken Ofori-Atta) on national television at the appointments committee hearings can understand why I had little choice but to renominate him to serve another four years as minister for finance and why by the grace of God he will be at the end of my second and final term of office, the longest serving finance minister in the history of the Fourth Republic,” Akufo-Addo stated.

“Over two days, he exhibited clarity of thought, a clear understanding of how to grow an economy, and what prospects the economy holds for the Ghanaian people. He provided a staunch defense for his record in office as finance minister from 17 February 2017, when he inherited a weak, faulting economy from the Mahama administration and helped nurse the economy back to good health by 6 January 2021,” he added.

According to the president, the finance minister “highlighted what public service means to him and outlined the plans he has to help revitalise the Ghanaian economy and restore it to the kinds of growth and expansion witnessed before the onset of COVID-19”.

“I congratulate you heartily on your appointment and I am sure you know that the Ghanaian people are expecting you to put the economy on a sound footing once again and help lead it out of the ravages of the pandemic,” Akufo-Addo said.

Response

Ofori-Atta expressed gratitude to his boss for the confidence he has reposed in him to serve for another four years. He indicated that he remains committed to the vision of the president which is, building a Ghana Beyond Aid, and “a prosperous and self confident Ghana in charge of her economic destiny”.

“The work ahead will be monumental but we are not naïve regarding the effort required. Like Nehemiah, we continue to remain resolute in the face of this global pandemic and skepticism and we know our Lord will give us success as He did in the times of Nehemiah and has done for us since we came into government in 2017 with two fish and five loaves,” Ofori-Atta said.

Ofori-Atta becomes the last of Akufo-Addo’s ministers to be vetted and approved having travelled to the United States for post-COVID-19 complication treatment.