Deputy minister-designate of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem
Deputy minister-designate of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, brought a touch of humour to his vetting proceedings on Monday, February 24, as he responded to questions regarding government debt and financial policies.
During the session, Ampem was asked about the debt inherited from the previous administration and the strategy for settling it.
He remarked that his primary motivation to expedite discussions was to conclude proceedings before the arrival of the Minority Leader and Ranking Member on the Appointments Committee, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
“Mr. Chairman, the only reason I will want to refuse the temptation is for us to hurry up before Afenyo-Markin comes,” he quipped, eliciting laughter from the panel members.
Afenyo-Markin had excused himself for a moment during the vetting of the yet-to-be-approved deputy minister.
However, Ampem’s vetting session couldn’t end in the absence of the Minority Leader, who later returned to pose some questions before the nominee was discharged.
Beyond the humour, Ampem addressed key financial concerns, affirming the government’s commitment to enhancing internal revenue generation rather than relying heavily on external borrowing.
He emphasized the need for aggressive revenue mobilization and prudent expenditure management to sustain government operations.
“We are going to aggressively pursue revenue generation, and we will cut expenditure.
“…The President has started by reducing the number of ministers by about 24, signaling that the government acknowledges the financial challenges ahead. Everyone will be urged to follow suit,” he added.
AM/KA
You can also watch Godfred Dame’s full speech on legal case withdrawals below: