Finance Minister Pays Courtesy Call on Amoatia Ofori Panin

Kyebi, Wednesday 21st February 2024 – The Hon. Minister for Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam has paid a courtesy call on Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the King of Akyem Abuakwa, in the Eastern Region.

The visit was to express his appreciation to the overlord of Kyebiman, and ask for his blessings, following President Akufo-Addo’s decision to make him succeed Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, who is a son of Kyebiman.

It was also to seek for Okyehene’s counsel to deliver on his mandate in the interest of the people of Ghana.

In his speech, the Minister commended the former Minister for Finance, Hon Ken Ofori-Atta for successfully steering the economy out of its crisis with signs of recovery clearly manifesting. The inflation rate, interest rate and other indicators of macroeconomic stability have all started pointing to the right direction.

“This is the kind of good job your son of the soil has done, and I have a privilege to step in his big shoes” he said.

Dr Amin Adam reiterated the steadfastness of President Akufo-Addo’s government to accelerate development in the Eastern Region by completing various ongoing education, health, and road infrastructural projects.

He disclosed that financier of the University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, the Exim Bank, Korea, had resumed the of disbursement of funds for the project.

The development, he said was to ensure the establishment of the school for Ghanaians to be more knowledgeable in environmental sciences and contribute to the protection of the environment sustainably.

Additionally, the government was working with the United Kingdom’s Export Finance for up to some €6.6 million to be disbursed to the contractor by the end of the first quarter of 2024 for the hospital project.

On roads, Dr Amin Adam indicated that the region would benefit from the government’s GHS4 billion allocated in the 2024 budget to complete road infrastructural development across the country.

Congratulating the Minister on his new appointment, the Okyehene reminded him, and the team of the need to serve the nation, without necessary seeking for any reward in return.

“You got your job based on your credentials, and the key thing is to serve, remember that your success will reflect the growth of our country. The key thing is for us to serve our nation and not ask for any reward back; to serve so that young people in this country will have a country they love,” Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin said.

The Okyehene expressed confidence in Ghana reaching a point in its development process, where its people would be out of poverty, but noted that getting to that level would require commitment and perseverance.

“I believe a time will come where Ghanaians will no longer decide that they have to get pregnant and go have delivery overseas so they would become citizens of other countries. But we will pride ourselves in this country, where you can be born, educated, raised and work here to become whoever you want to become,” he added.

The team that accompanied the Minister included the Chief Director of the Ministry, Ms Eva Mends, Mr David Klottey Collison, Director Public Investment and Assets Division, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, Director Economic Strategy and Research Division and some officials of the Ministry and the media. END