Thursday, 31 October

Police approves Minority's second demo against BoG Governor, two deputies

General News
OccupyBoG demo

The Ghana Police Service has approved the Minority caucus in Parliament's second protest, set for July 30, demanding the removal of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Ernest Addison, and his two deputies from office. 

The approval follows fruitful engagements between the police and the Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga.

In a letter dated Wednesday, July 17, the police asked the organiSers to ensure that the protest does not breach public peace. 

The NDC MPs argue that the governor, who they claim oversaw significant mismanagement at the Central Bank, should be replaced with a more competent individual.

On October 3, 2023, members of the caucus organised a protest calling for the resignation of the governor and his deputies after the Bank recorded a GH¢60.81 billion loss in the 2022 fiscal year and allocated over $250 million for constructing a new headquarters. 

The protesters gathered at the Obra Spot at Kwame Nkrumah Circle and marched through several key locations, including Adabraka, Ridge Roundabout, and the High Court Complex Traffic Light, before ending at Independence Square. 

Although leadership intended to present a petition to the governor, he did not meet them personally and sent his head of security instead.

The initial protest was deemed unsuccessful, prompting the Minority caucus to start planning a new protest date, which took nearly a year to finalise. 

During this period, Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga filed a Right to Information Act (RTI) request to the BoG, seeking detailed information on the combined losses of approximately GH¢70 billion reported in BoG’s financial statements for 2022 and 2023, as well as the over GH¢250 million spent on the new head office and a clinic under construction. 

The central bank stated that this information was available to the public.

Source: Classfmonline.com