I don’t take a wage or a daily allowance – Ken Ofori-Atta

Ken Ofori, the new Finance Minister-designate since taking office in 2017, Atta claims he has never earned a paycheck.

He made these remarks during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

Such entitlements and compensations from which he has not benefited as Minister, he claims, including per diem. “I do not take a salary, I do not take a per diem, so those are not the objectives that I come with,” he said on Thursday.

He said on Thursday, “I don’t take a wage, I don’t take a per diem, so those aren’t the goals that I come with.”

He was reacting to North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s query about his partnership with private companies that work closely with several government departments and agencies.

The MP believes the situation feeds a narrative that implies his cronies could be given undue advantage.

Mr. Ofori-Atta, on the other hand, clarified that his dedication to improving the country’s public sector keeps him working even though he isn’t paid.

The Minister-designate finds the need for a more vibrant public sector to be an intrinsic aim, one that he is unable to compromise for financial gain.

“I’m sure you’re aware that the topic of public service has been with the family for a long time, and I came into it with that aspect,” he continued.

The Finance Minister-vetting designate’s was postponed due to a trip to the United States of America for care after problems occurred during his recovery from Covid-19.

On March 12, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, delivered the government’s 2021 Budget Statement in his place.