Needless calls for resignation of Ofori-Atta over Sputnik Vaccines

The calls for the resignation of the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, over the botched Sputnik Vaccine supply deal by elements in the National Democratic Congress is baseless and needless. The agenda of dragging the Minister of Finance into the whole discussion is clearly borne out of empty hatred against the person of Mr Ofori-Atta.

Diversionary tactics

The noise from the NDC elements is just an attempt to divert attention of Ghanaians from the ongoing discussion on the Saglemi Housing project scandal caused by John Dramani Mahama and the NDC administration.

It is said that “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands”. On this basis, I would like to ask the NDC officials and members the following equity questions:

Did Dr Kwabena Duffour ever resign as a Minister of Finance when he paid a whopping 51.2 million Ghana Cedis to Alfred Agbesi Woyome under the Mills/Mahama’s Government?
Did Seth Terkper ever resign over the $3 million cash-filled plane to Brazil during the World Cup tournament?
Did Seth Terkper ever resign over the payment of 3.6million Ghana Cedis to the Smartty’s Bus branding saga?
Did Seth Terkper ever resign over the inflated $600million Ameri Power deal under Mahama’s Government?
Did Seth Terkper ever resign over GYEEDA and SADA Scandals under Mahama’s Government?
Did Seth Terkper ever resign over Airbus Scandal under Mahama’s Government?
Did Seth Terkper ever resign when he paid $179 million for $64million work under the Saglemi Housing Project Scandal?
Did Seth Terkper ever resign over the embezzlement of $114million by NDC officials under the Saglemi Housing project scandal?

It is very imperative for the officials, Members of Parliament and communicators of the NDC to stop the ugly noise, the double standards, political hypocrisy, political blackmail and propaganda against Mr Ofori-Atta and family members of President Akufo-Addo.

The Minister of Finance shall not resign over the procurement of Sputnik Vaccine by the Minister of Health.

Since Sheikh Al Maktoum has agreed to refund the money for the unsupplied vaccines, what is the basis for the calling of the resignation of the Minister of Finance if not for sheer hatred, political blackmail and propaganda against the person of Mr Ofori-Atta by NDC members?

Saving lives

It is also needless to attack the Health Minister, considering the difficult situation the country was going through during the peak of the COVID-19 cases. Clearly, any rational and emotionally intelligent person who cherishes lives of human beings over money would do everything humanly possible to save the lives of his people at the expense of money and procurement procedures. This is exactly what the Health Minister did as a compassionate reasonable human being who cherishes saving lives of human beings than just protecting money.

Under Section 18 of the Public Financial Management Act 2016 (Act 921), passed by Mahama’s government, the Health Minister did no wrong in the procurement of the vaccines, considering the critical situation at the time.

Section 18 of the Public Financial Management Act 921 states that, “a fiscal target or rule provided for in the fiscal strategy document may be suspended where there is any event of a natural disaster, public health epidemic or war.” In this instance, the COVID-19 clearly falls under the Section 18 of the Public Financial Management Act 921.

We also have to appreciate the fact that the best decisions taken by President Akufo-Addo and his able Ministers of Finance and Health Ghana be considered as one of the best managers of COVID-19 globally.

Hypocrisy

If Sammy Gyamfi, Clement Apaak, the Minority in Parliament (then Majority under Mills/Mahama’s administration) could not call for the resignation of Seth Terkper and Dr Kwabena Duffour over Woyome, GYEEDA, SADA, Ameri, Airbus, Smartty’s Bus Branding, Brazil World Cup and Saglemi Housing project scandals, then, certainly, they have absolutely no basis and justification to call for the resignation of Mr Ken Ofori-Atta over the refunded $2 million.

It is equally important to point out that it is absolutely childish to compare the procurement breaches of Charlotte Osei to that of the Health Minister who was under enormous psychological pressure and stress to save the lives of Ghanaians from the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The supposed procurement breaches of the Health Minister was meant to save the precious lives of Ghanaians. What lives did Charlotte Osei’s procurement breaches save?

The people in the NDC need to be serious thinkers with compassionate hearts for human lives.

Protecting human lives from COVID-19 is more important than so-called procedural errors in procurement.

The writer is the Founder and President of Concerned Voters Movement