The Minority in Parliament has strongly criticised President John Dramani Mahama for allowing the discontinuation of criminal charges against Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiamah, the acting Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, 5th February, Dr. Gideon Boako, the Member of Parliament for Tano North, led the Minority in calling for the continuation of the prosecution, despite Dr. Asiamah’s recent appointment. They expressed concerns that halting the legal proceedings raised serious questions about governance and accountability.
The Minority warned that the decision could have significant economic and political repercussions for Ghana. They raised alarms over the potential impact on the country’s international relations, with concerns that global financial institutions might be reluctant to engage with Ghana due to the uncertainty surrounding the case.
“Political and economic risk analysts will not be kind to Ghana,” the Minority said. “This could increase the cost of Ghana’s international transactions if these charges are reinstated by a future Attorney-General.”
They also questioned the implications of Dr. Asiamah’s position as Governor on the country’s financial standing, highlighting that the decision to drop the charges does not clear him of any wrongdoing. They argued that unresolved legal issues could undermine confidence in his leadership and financial decision-making.
“These charges can be brought back under a different government,” they stated, emphasising that allowing someone with unresolved legal issues to lead the central bank could create uncertainty and damage Ghana’s reputation on the global stage.
As a result, the Minority announced plans to formally notify the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of their concerns. They expressed worry that Dr. Asiamah’s role as Governor, including his position on the IMF Board of Governors, could expose Ghana to international scrutiny.
“We will be writing to the IMF to highlight this issue,” the Minority said, adding that transparency and accountability must be upheld, especially as Ghana continues its engagement with the IMF under a financial programme.
Source:TheDotNews