BoG Governor Briefing: Manasseh Azure accuses Majority of dodging accountability

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has criticised the decision to hold the Bank of Ghana (BoG) Governor's [Dr Johnson Asiama] appearance before Parliament behind closed doors, questioning the Majority's commitment to transparency and accountability.

In a Facebook post shared on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Manasseh addressed Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, describing his defence of the in-camera sitting as "unconvincing."

'You demanded accountability in the past, what has changed?' - Manasseh taunts Ayariga

He said Ayariga's explanation failed to justify why the Governor's briefing to Parliament was not held in public.

"Yesterday, I watched a video clip of your press conference in which you tried to defend why the Governor of the Bank of Ghana's appearance in parliament was held in camera," he wrote.

"If you watch that clip, you will conclude the same way many Ghanaians have concluded, unconvincing. You laboured uncharacteristically and in vain to make sense of what happened."

Manasseh recalled that while in opposition, Ayariga was among the leading voices demanding greater accountability from the Bank of Ghana, including filing Right to Information (RTI) requests and threatening to petition the Office of the Special Prosecutor over the central bank's refusal to disclose certain information.

"In the Akufo-Addo administration, you were at the forefront of demanding accountability from the Bank of Ghana Governor, writing RTI requests and publishing your findings... What has changed?" he asked.

The journalist also criticised the Majority for blocking a parliamentary motion to investigate the GoldBod deal. He argued that the move, coupled with the closed-door BoG briefing, undermines the governing party's commitment to transparency.

"Is this the new creed of a party founded on probity, transparency and accountability?" he questioned.

Manasseh argued that keeping such proceedings away from public scrutiny only fuels suspicion, even where there may be nothing improper.

"The opacity creates the impression that there's something to hide. It is not good for our democracy. It heightens suspicion when, in some of these cases, there might be nothing beyond the nuisance value."

He also referred to reports that some New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs intended to question the Governor over Ghana's recent currency stability, which they reportedly attributed to a gold-buying initiative introduced under former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

However, he cautioned against allowing political rivalry to influence decisions that could weaken democratic accountability.

"A quest for bragging rights should not push you to set precedents that will hurt governance in the future."

"If there's nothing to hide, don't keep things in the dark. It makes the government worse, not better."

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NA/VPO