In 2022, he emerged as a prominent figure in a crusade by some members of the Majority caucus in Parliament to advocate for the removal of the then-Minister for Finance and Economic Planning from office.
Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, who earned the title of 'Rebel MP' among New Patriotic Party (NPP) members of Parliament, is again back in the news for breaking ranks amidst the party's search for a running mate ahead of the 2024 general election.
Ofori-Atta Must Go campaign
On October 25, 2022, a significant development occurred in Ghana's Parliament when some members of the majority caucus belonging to the ruling New Patriotic Party announced their demand for the then-Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to resign.
The group, which followed up the announcement of their demand with a petition to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was led by Andy Appiah Kubi, the lawmaker for the Asante Akim North Constituency.
The call for Ofori-Atta's removal was based on concerns over the handling of the nation's finances and the belief that a change in leadership could lead to better economic management.
"We have had occasions to defend allegations of conflicts of interest, lack of confidence, and trust against the leadership of the Finance Ministry. The recent development within the economy is of major concern to our caucus and our constituents. We have made our grave concerns known to our President through the parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without any positive response," Andy Appiah Kubi said.
"We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the President changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope to the finance sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy," he added.
The MPs went as far as threatening to boycott government business in Parliament, including the Minister's presentation of the 2023 budget statement.
Despite their fervent demand, the President failed to heed the concerns of the MPs.
However, a cabinet reshuffle some two years later, which saw Mr Ofori-Atta removed from office as the Minister for Finance, has been attributed to the crusade led by Appiah-Kubi.
"Sometimes, when you make a call, it is subject to certain urgencies of the time. It has come a little late, but better late than never because if it had come at the time we made the call, it would have been much greater than it is now," the MP stated in an interview in February following the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta.
TWI NEWS
Appiah-Kubi fights NAPO's nomination as Bawumia's running mate
Following recent news about the nomination of Manhyia South MP Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO) as the running mate of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Andy Appiah-Kubi granted an interview on June 27, 2024, in which he stated his disapproval of the likely choice of NAPO.
"Well, I wouldn't speak for the majority because we have not been consulted as a caucus for us to state our position. But me, Appiah-Kubi, you can solicit my view on that. If it were up to me to choose, I wouldn't choose him.
"It's not my preference. Appiah-Kubi is saying that he is not my preference. But that doesn't mean that he is not qualified. If there was an opportunity like that, I would express a candidate, however acceptable otherwise, to our presidential candidate. I would want someone who will be open with the people on the ground, who will be able to deliver the votes, and who would also submit to the presidency, and who will also be important in bringing Parliament closer to the executive," he said.
"I would probably select someone who is more acceptable to the generals going to war, the parliamentarians. We should find someone who, if the presidential candidate is not there, will hold the hand of a member of Parliament and go and conduct a campaign in that member of Parliament's constituency. I don't see that happening in this equation. He cannot hold my hand. So why would I say that I prefer him? He cannot hold my hand," he added.
His comment, however, did not go down well with the Majority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who reprimanded the Asante Akim North MP for his utterance.
"We should all respect party rules. You cannot go out of your way to describe your colleague in a manner that is unacceptable," he told reporters in Parliament on June 27, 2024.
Confirming the flagbearer's choice of NAPO as his running mate in a subsequent interview, the Majority Leader noted that the generality of the caucus backed the decision.
"I have engaged the caucus, and the feedback has been positive. The generality of the caucus is in support of his choice," he said.
Despite the Majority Leader's affirmation, Appiah-Kubi has since restated his position against NAPO's nomination.
In an interview on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' on Monday, July 1, 2024, the MP rehashed his disagreement over the party's choice of NAPO as its running mate.
He emphasized that left to him alone, the Manhyia South MP would not be his first choice to partner with the party's flagbearer.
He thus called on Dr Bawumia to reconsider his choice of running mate, emphasizing the need for the flagbearer to partner with a submissive, loyal, respectful, and humble person akin to the flagbearer's personality.
GA/EK
Listen to Appiah-Kubi's take on NAPO's nomination below:
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