VEEP Townhall: What are you going to say that Ofori-Atta didn’t say in Parliament? – IMANI asks Bawumia

Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe is skeptical about the import of the April 3rd Town Hall meeting of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on the economy of Ghana.

According to him, although he subscribes to the idea that Dr Bawumia speaks on the economy, he believes there is nothing substantially different from whatever Dr Bawumia will say and what Finanace Minister Ken Ofori-Atta told Parliament within the week.

Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia is expected to lead an economic management team town hall meeting with stakeholders on the economy on April 3 in Accra.

Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah disclosed this at a Press Briefing in Accra said last week.

He said the vice President who is also the head of the Economic Management Team will be speaking on the theme “our progress, our status, our future”.

He said the Town Hall Meetings are designed to bring government closer to the people and shall therefore see State actors give an account to the people who also have an opportunity to ask questions and make contributions to the local and national development process.

But Finance Minister Mr. Ofori-Atta was hauled before Parliament to address lawmakers on March 28, 2019, on Ghana’s successful completion of the International Monetary Fund (IMF’s) Extended Credit Facility.

His address also focused on Ghana’s historic $3 billion Eurobond, and recent developments on the foreign exchange market and the Ghanaian cedi.

Reacting to the series of developments, Franklin Cudjoe believes the townhall may not be necessary.

“I did support the view that our veep speaks to the economy and its travails. However, may I ask what substantially different will my friend and Veep, Dr. Bawumia be saying on April 3 from what the Finance Minister eloquently delivered to Parliament yesterday on the state of our economic affairs?” he said.