NDC Vice Chair Challenges NPP to Reinstate Ofori-Atta if Party Is Serious About Accountability

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has gone on the offensive against the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), with a senior party figure challenging the NPP to put its money where its mouth is on the question of financial accountability. NDC Vice Chairman Abanga issued the provocative dare, telling the NPP that if the party genuinely cares about accountability, it should start by recalling former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta — the man widely seen as the architect of Ghana's recent economic difficulties.

The challenge and what prompted it

Abanga's comments came alongside praise for Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the North Tongu Member of Parliament who serves as Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs. In a statement issued in November 2026, the NDC Vice Chairman commended Ablakwa for what he described as meticulous leadership and meaningful contributions to Ghana's international relations — positioning the NDC lawmaker as the standard-bearer for responsible and transparent public service.

The juxtaposition was clearly deliberate. By holding up Ablakwa as a model of accountability, Abanga was drawing a sharp contrast with the NPP's record in government — and in particular with Ken Ofori-Atta, whose tenure as Finance Minister coincided with Ghana's worst economic crisis in a generation, culminating in the country seeking an International Monetary Fund bailout and undertaking a painful domestic debt exchange programme.

Why it matters for Ghana

Ghana's economy remains a live political issue. The debt restructuring exercise that began under the previous NPP administration wiped out the savings of many ordinary Ghanaians who had invested in government bonds, affected pension funds, and severely damaged confidence in the country's financial institutions. For many Ghanaians, accountability for how the economy reached that point is not merely a political talking point — it is a deeply personal grievance.

The NDC, now in government following the December 2024 general election, has consistently sought to remind the public of the economic inheritance it received. By invoking Ofori-Atta's name, the party is tapping into lingering public anger and signalling that it intends to keep the previous administration's economic record firmly in the national conversation.

The NPP, for its part, has pushed back against what it sees as attempts to deflect from the current government's own performance, arguing that the NDC must now be judged on its own record rather than that of its predecessor.

The broader political picture

Ablakwa's prominence in this episode is also notable. The North Tongu MP built a strong public reputation during the NPP's time in government by consistently scrutinising state expenditure — most famously raising questions about official travel and procurement. His elevation by the NDC as a symbol of probity suggests the party is keen to associate itself with figures seen by the public as genuinely committed to transparency.

As Ghana continues its IMF-supported recovery programme, questions of who is responsible for the country's fiscal troubles — and who can be trusted to manage public resources going forward — are likely to remain central to political debate. The NDC's strategy of keeping Ofori-Atta and the NPP's economic record in the spotlight reflects how important this narrative is expected to be in the political battles ahead.

• NDC Vice Chairman Abanga dared the NPP to recall former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
• Abanga praised MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for his leadership on foreign affairs accountability.
• Ghana's economic crisis and debt restructuring remain deeply sensitive political issues.