Arghandiwal Removed from His Post as Finance Minister

Ghani appointed former deputy finance minister Mohammad Khalid Payenda as acting minister of finance.

President Ashraf Ghani removed Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal from his post as the minister of finance, the Administrative Office of the President said, citing at least five reasons behind the decision.

Arghandiwal was appointed as acting minister of finance last year in March. He was approved by the parliament as finance minister last year in November.

Delay in the collection of taxes, lack of cooperation in an assessment by a joint team of illegal appointments in the Ministry of Finance and prevention of the assessments, weak management, lack of commitment to good governance values, not obeying the article 77 of the Constitution in his activities, and violating decrees and directions of the High Office of the President, the Administrative Office of the President said in a statement.

Mohammad Khalid Payenda was appointed as acting minister of finance by President Ghani, says the Administrative Office of the President. Payenda was serving as the deputy minister of finance in 2018.