- Honourable Minister-designate’s Delta 157 flight has landed. He’s in good spirits. He sends his regards."
The Minister for Finance-designate, Ken Ofori-Atta, is in “good spirits” and responding to treatment in the United States, his personal assistant announced on Monday to dispel wild rumours of his death.
Ofori-Atta left Accra on Sunday (14 February) to seek medical attention following post-COVID-19 medical complications, a statement from the Finance Ministry has announced.
On Monday, speculation was rife on social media that he had died. However, his personal assistant, Michael Bediako, said the rumours were false.
“Good morning, Honourable Minister-designate’s Delta 157 flight has landed,” a text message from Bediako confirming Ofori-Atta’s safe arrival in the US said.
“He’s in good spirits. He sends his regards,” the terse message concluded, accompanied by a fresh picture of the minister-designate and his wife, Angela, at John F Kennedy Airport in New York.
Out for two weeks
Ofori-Atta will be out of the country to undergo a medical review and is expected to return after two weeks, the statement said.
“The Ministry of Finance wishes to inform the general public and stakeholders that Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the representative of the president at the Ministry of Finance and Minister-designate for Finance, will travel to the United States of America today for a special medical review,” the statement issued earlier by the ministry’s public relations unit had said.
It added: “After recovering from COVID-19 last December, Ofori-Atta has had medical complications which doctors advise require further interventions not currently available in Ghana.”
Vetting postponed
According to the statement from the Ministry of Finance, the leadership of Parliament has been notified of Ofori-Atta’s absence, as he was due for vetting tomorrow, 16 February 2021.
“He is expected to be away for two weeks,” the statement said.
“Mr Ofori-Atta was scheduled to appear before the appointments committee of Parliament on Tuesday, 16 February 2021.
“The leadership of Parliament has been duly notified for a new date to be fixed upon his return.”
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