Ghana finance minister fends off criticism, apologises for economic hardship

The cedi currency has lost half its value since the year began, and consumer inflation has topped 40%. Last week, parliament set up a committee to investigate opposition allegations that Ofori-Atta has been benefiting from Ghana's economic woes through illegal payments and unethical contracts.

Ghana's finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta said on Friday that he was "truly sorry" for the country's economic hardship but insisted that he was competent for the role in remarks to a parliamentary committee set up to investigate his conduct.

Ofori-Atta has been heavily criticised for his handling of what has become Ghana's worst economic crisis in a generation. The cedi currency has lost half its value since the year began, and consumer inflation has topped 40%.

Last week, parliament set up a committee to investigate opposition allegations that Ofori-Atta has been benefiting from Ghana's economic woes through illegal payments and unethical contracts. He spoke publicly about criticism against him for the first time on Friday, saying the accusations were unfounded.

"The people of Ghana are enduring hardships. I feel the pain personally, professionally and in my soul," said Ofori-Atta. He said that the opposition's claim he has misreported economic data to parliament was "completely untrue".

"Since I took office in 2017 I have served the country with integrity and honesty," he said.

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