Dr. Ernest Addison and his team must be held accountable - Mahama Ayariga

Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga, says the time has come for the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Addison, to leave office after “messing” the economy.

Mr Ayariga is of the view that the poor management of the economy by Dr Addison and his team is the reason for Ghana’s economic predicament and must not be allowed to stay on.

The caucus in August 2023 held a protest march to demand Dr Addison’s removal after it emerged that the central bank made a loss of over GH¢60 bil­lion but were unsuccessful in their demand.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, Mahama Ayariga said Dr Addison and his team must be held accountable.

“It is time to go back (to the BoG) and we are marching back to the central bank to demand the resignation of the governor and his deputies and the board of the bank…so that we can have a change in the direction of the management of the finances of this country.

“They can’t mess up the econo­my as they have and be allowed to continue staying in office and not be held accountable,” Mahama Ayariga stated.

According to him, the misman­agement of the bank is what has occasioned the decision by the government to recapitalise the central bank.

He said the decision by the bank to build a new headquarters at the cost of US$250 million from an initial cost of US$110 million, at a time of economic difficulty, only underscores the indiscretion of Dr Addison and his team.

“We have also heard that a piece of land that used to host a clinic of the bank has been reassigned for the construction of a residence for the governor. We asked him how much it costs but he has refused to furnish us with the cost,” he lamented.

The conduct of the Governor, he said smacked of contempt of the oversight authority of parliament and he must be made to answer.

He said allowing Dr Addison to stay on would set a bad precedent which would not augur well for the bank and corporate gover­nance.

Mr Ayariga said Ghanaians must stand up to the “misman­agement of Governor Addison” and pour out in their numbers to demand the exit of the Governor.

All agreements, he said, have been reached with the Accra Regional Police Command for a peaceful protest march on Tues­day, July 30, 2024.