Minority kicks against Dr Asiama’s appointment as Bank of Ghana Governor

By Elsie Appiah-Osei, GNA
Accra, Feb. 05, GNA – The Minority Caucus in Parliament has expressed
reservations over President John Mahama's nomination of Dr Johnson Asiama as
Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
They argued that Dr Asiama’s nomination required a consultation with the Council of
State before he could be appointed, but he had already assumed his duty as the
Governor.
“We humbly suggest that Dr Johnson Asiama ought to keep away from the Bank of
Ghana until the Council of State approves his nomination,” Dr Gideon Boako, a
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano North said on
Wednesday, during a Press Conference at the Parliament House in Accra.
He said Dr Asiama could ask for and get all the briefing he required as he awaited
the approval.
“… We are at a loss as to why President John Dramani Mahama cannot wait for the
completion of the adjudication process of a court suit against Dr Asiama before
appointing him,” he said.
The Minority further questioned Dr Asiama’s ability to supervise the financial sector,
given the alleged serious charges leveled against him.
“It tells a lot about the integrity of our financial industry. It also raises questions about
how he will treat staff of the Bank who cooperated with the Attorney General's
Department in initiating the case against him,” he added.
The Minority warned that Dr Asiama’s appointment could have serious
consequences for Ghana’s economy, including increased costs for international
transactions and potential reputational risks.
“We will be writing to the IMF to draw attention to this, given that he will, as Governor
of the Bank, be a member of the IMF Board of Governors,” Dr Boako said.
In response to the Minority’s concerns, Mr Felix Ofosu Kwakye, the Minister for
Government Communications, published appointment letters of previous government
officials who were appointed while waiting for the Constitution of the Council of
State.
However, the Minority maintained that Dr Asiama’s situation was different, as he had
already begun assuming duties as Governor without proper approval.
GNA