'Like Jesus to Zacchaeus, I say to Ken Ofori-Atta, come back to Ghana!' – Mahama Ayariga

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, delivered a special sermon in Parliament during his concluding remarks on the 2026 Budget debate, drawing comparison between former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Zacchaeus in the Bible.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on November 27, 2025, the Majority Leader said Ofori-Atta should return to Ghana to face corruption charges, just as Jesus asked Zacchaeus to come down from the tree in Luke 19:1–10.

Ayariga explained that after years of listening to Ofori-Atta quote scriptures during his parliamentary appearances, he had also “learnt from him” and decided to use the same approach.

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Quoting Luke 19, he argued that Zacchaeus, described in the Bible as a chief tax collector, bore a symbolic resemblance to the former finance minister.

“Jesus entered Jericho and met Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector. What was Ken Ofori-Atta? He was in charge of the Ministry of Finance and the overall boss of the GRA, and what does GRA do? They collect tax. So, clearly, Zacchaeus in the Bible resembles Ken Ofori-Atta,” he said.

The Majority Leader went further, linking Zacchaeus’ wealth to Ofori-Atta’s business portfolio.

“A man who owns Databank and Enterprise, is he not a wealthy man? Is there no resemblance between Zacchaeus and Ken Ofori-Atta?” he said.

Using the same scripture, the Majority Leader urged the former minister to return to Ghana to answer for allegations levelled against him.

“When Jesus reached the spot, he said, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately,’ and I say to Ken Ofori-Atta, ‘Come back to Ghana immediately’,” he added.

The call comes at a time when the Office of the Special Prosecutor has charged Ofori-Atta, Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML), and six others with corruption and corruption-related offences.

The corruption allegations involve a “messy, careless, and illegal” deal between the Ghana Revenue Authority and SML.

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