Ken Ofori Atta is the most ‘Chisel’ guy I know – CEO Coastal Development Authority

The Chief Executive Officer of the Coastal Development Authority Mr. Jerry Ahmed Shaib has described Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta as the most ‘chisel’ guy (miser) that he’s ever known.

According to him, one will have to do a lot of talking and convincing before the Minister will release even a pesewa.

Mr. Jerry Ahmed Shaib made the comment in an interview with sit-in host Akwasi Nsiah on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa FM while commenting on the Ministry of Finance (MoF) granting letters of commencement to the three development authorities to commence the full implementation of the $1-million per constituency pledge under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) for the 2020 fiscal year.

The commencement certificate makes available GH¢1.66 billion (equivalent of $320 million) for the 275 constituencies across the country.

This covers $275 million for the 275 constituencies and $45 million for outstanding commitments.

further on the Finance Minister, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, disclosed that it took the intervention of Vice President Dr, Bawumia and the Economic Management Team before the GH¢1.66 billion fund could be released.

He said though Hon. Ken Ofori Atta’s way of doing things can be very frustrating sometimes, it is good in the interest of the country.

“If you know the Minister of Finance very well, people will not say this but I’ll say it. He’s one Chisel guy, he’s so ‘chisel’. You have to justify, somersault, roll back to ensure that you’ve convinced the man before you’ll get one cedi from him. Even getting this commencement certificate it hasn’t been easy at all. It took a whole Economic Management Team and the Vice President to intervene to ensure this is done. The man doesn’t want any waste just as President Akufo Addo has advised him.

He added: “So he’s one person you have to do everything possible to convince before he can release the money to you and you can go round and ask. That is the problem but it’s a positive problem because if not people will be thinking that there’s some money out there for them to chop and that is what the man is guarding against and I agree with him.”