Mahama’s open confession is pent up frustration - NPP

Following the confession of a plotted dismissal by President Mahama, the Finance Minister, Seth Terkper has said attempts by some people within government to get the President to fire him (Terkper) has rather challenged him to do better in his capacity as a Finance Minister.

President John Dramani Mahama, last week, openly confessed that though he has come under intense pressure to dismiss the Finance Minister Seth Terkper because some believe the many reforms he (Terkper) was introducing at the Finance Ministry are against the traditions that have been in existence at the Ministry over the years, his confidence in him remains resolute.

But the National Youth Organizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Emmanuel Atefuah Danso asserts the President’s revelation is borne out of the pent-up frustration he (Mahama) is experiencing as a result of the internal wrangling in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

President Mahama revealed last Wednesday when the new Barclays Bank Managing Director, Patience Akyianu called on him at the Flagstaff House that he was under pressure to dismiss Mr. Terkper.

The minister’s critics accused him of mismanaging the economy, allowing the cedi to fall sharply against the dollar, rising inflation and unnecessary borrowing.

The President whiles expressing concern about the challenges of some Ghanaian companies said, banks these days feel more comfortable lending to multinational companies rather than indigenous Ghanaian companies because of the inability of the Ghanaian companies to pay back loans on time.

According to the President, this could partly be blamed on government’s fiscal indiscipline that creates huge deficit with rising inflation and interest rates, thus making it difficult for Ghanaian companies who work for government to survive.

The President indicated that government has introduced various reforms to deal with the situation which he described as a "vicious cycle".

“…It’s a vicious cycle we need to break and that is why a lot of the reforms that Seth is carrying out in the Finance Ministry with regards to the GIFMIS [Ghana Integrated Management Information System] and making sure we budget properly and MDAs [Ministries, Departments and Agencies] follow budget discipline. All these are issues we’re trying to introduce”.

The reforms however, according to him are not favourable to certain individuals who have therefore called for the head of Mr. Terkper.

“I mean several times they’ve interceded with me to sack Seth because he’s hurting the politics. He doesn’t understand the politics," he added.

Discussing the issue on Okay Fm’s “Ghana Decides” program, the NPP youth activist averred that the platform the president chose to vent out his frustration was a pointer to the serious internal wranglings in the ruling party. He also berated President Mahama for opting to discuss what he felt was Cabinet matters with the new Barclays Bank MD instead of the core economic pressing issues forestalling the country’s development.

“…..we have long mentioned that there is internal conflict in NDC and the President’s public outburst just confirms the gravity of the situation;…the President has told Ghanaians that his ministers have done well during the assessment of his one year in office. It is surprising to hear from him (Mahama) that some leading members in NDC are calling for the dismissal of the Finance Minister...they have serious internal problems but they always come out to pretend,” he asserted.