Ghana’s main opposition party National Democratic Congress (NDC) has given the governor of the central bank 21 days starting today August 8, to vacate its position.
This call comes after the Bank of Ghana (BOG) recorded a staggering loss of GH¢60.8 billion within the 2022 fiscal year.
The party has threatened to march to the central bank premises to drag Dr. Ernest Addison and his deputies from office if they fail to resign after the aforementioned days.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, the leader of the opposition members of parliament, Dr. Cessey Ato Forson, said the governor is incapable and there he should resign from the post together with his deputies.
The Minority Leader in parliament, Ato Forson addressing journalists on Tuesday, accused Dr Addison of mismanaging BoG resulting in an IMF bailout.
The minority alleges that the parent bank has recorded a loss of negative (-) GH¢51.1 billion equity which they say the central bank is bankrupt now.
“In this regard, we call for the resignation of the Governor of the Central Bank and his deputies within 21 days from today. We are resolved to embark on popular action to occupy the Central Bank and drive out the team of inept, callous and criminal mismanagers of the finances of this country and save the Bank of Ghana. The March to Ensure Accountability will begin in 21 days if the Governor of the Bank of Ghana does not do the needful and pack bag and baggage out of that sacred institution that he has so desecrated. Dr Ernest Addisson Must Go! There has to be an end to impunity and it is NOW!”
“This means the recklessness and mismanagement of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana has cost the nation twice what we are struggling and sacrificing to receive from the IMF amid major conditionalities”.
“The NDC party is on record to have informed Ghanaians on countless occasions that the Bank of Ghana has been on a dangerous trajectory, and indeed, it has now become a crime scene with dire consequences for all of us. Beyond the mismanagement of the economy and our finances, the spectacular recklessness and ineptitude of the Governor and his team has called into question the wisdom of leaving him at the helm of affairs of the Central Bank”.
The NDC further accused the BoG of spending GHS97.4 million on foreign travels.
“Similarly, foreign and domestic travels of the Bank of Ghana cost the Ghanaian taxpayer a staggering
GHS97.4 million, which is about 246% increase over the previous year”.