The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, is under fire after a journalist reported that he okayed the payment of $800,000 to the Ghana Football Association recently amidst the ongoing economic turmoil.
Renowned sports journalist, Collins Atta Poku, claims embattled Finance Minister paid $800,000 to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to settle costs for matches played during the September 2022 international break.
“Got in touch with 3 Majority MPs who told me they were dismayed to find out the Finance Minister paid almost $800,000 to the Ghana Football Association just last week, in spite of all the challenges we face. The money covers their expenditure in the Brazil and Nicaragua games,” he tweeted on October 25, 2022.
Got in touch with 3 Majority MPs who told me they were dismayed to find out the Finance Minister paid almost $800,000 to the Ghana Football Association just last week, in spite of all the challenges we face. The money covers their expenditure in the Brazil and Nicaragua games.
— Collins Atta Poku (@PapaPoku) October 25, 2022
However, the Ghana Football Association swiftly reacted and denied the news, calling it frivolous.
“The attention of our lawyers has been drawn to a tweet from Collins Atta Poku on the release of $800,000 to the Ghana Football Association for our recent international friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua. The news is not only false but a calculated lie to picth the public against the Ghana Football Association, drag our name in the mud and defame the Association,” the GFA tweeted.
The Association asked the public to disregard the report.
.@PapaPoku good afternoon senior, how is it going? Ghana Football Association lawyers are calling you 😁 pic.twitter.com/kaaL2AfVzm
— Ayishatu Zakaria Ali (@ayishatu_) October 25, 2022
The Finance Minister is under immense pressure after over 80 majority lawmakers called for his sack.
The MP’s have also called for the sacking of the minister of state at the finance ministry, Adu Boahen.
The lawmakers believe sacking the duo for their poor handling of the economy would be a good step at addressing the economic malaise and also restoring public confidence in the economy.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, October 25, a lawmaker for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah Kubi said “We are unhappy with the developments in the country, we consulted our constituents who also expressed same sentiments. 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.” he added.
Ghana lost 3-0 to Brazil and beat Nicaragua 1-0 in the two friendlies held in September.
Source: theGhanaianVoice.Com