Four names have risen prominently as probable options for future President John Mahama to man the highest posts in the Bank of Ghana, including the Governor, Deputies, and different Board duties.
Among the names are James Agbo, also known by his traditional title of Togbe Afede, Farihan Alhassan of Stanbic Bank, Dr. Johnson Asiama, and Alhassan Andani, a former Stanbic boss.
Madam Quartey, a former Deputy Minister of Finance, is rumored to regard the Bank of Ghana role as a demotion, but conversations are still ongoing.
Togbe Afede.
Togbe Afede is the executive chairman of World Trade Centre Accra and the creator of the SAS Finance Group Ltd, which includes Strategic African Securities Ltd, a stock brokerage and corporate finance advising firm, and SAS Investment Management Ltd, an asset management company.
He also formed Strategic Initiatives Ltd. (SIL), a portfolio and private equity investment firm, as well as Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Ltd, Databank Financial Services, and Africa World Airlines Ltd.
Negotiations are currently underway to have the current leaders, led by Dr. Ernest Addison, leave the scene amicably, as their predecessors did in 2017, subject to some terms and conditions, including "settlements".
At least two other women, including Mona Quartey, have been named to the Mahama BOG squad, but no additional information is available about them.
Although he is 67 years old, Mahama is claimed to be relying on his 10-year experience as a Board Member of the Bank of Ghana from 2003 to 2013.
Togbe Afede has also been a silent "supporter" and counselor to the party for the previous 8 years, with reported sponsorship, while publicly condemning the party prior to the 2016 election.
Critics of his hiring say he is unpredictable and difficult to manage.
Dr. Johnson Asiama
Dr. Johnson Asiama, a former second Deputy Governor of the Bank during the first John Mahama administration who resigned in 2017, is also reportedly being considered. He is an economist and monetary policy specialist.
Dr. Asiama joined the Bank of Ghana in 1996 and advanced through the ranks. He has worked in several departments, including Banking Supervision, Financial Markets, Research, and the Governors Department.
Between 2010 and 2013, he was the Director of the Macroeconomic Management Department at the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) in Lagos, Nigeria, where he designed and managed capacity building programs for staff at central banks, ministries of finance, and other public sector institutions throughout the West African subregion.
Dr. Asiama has a PhD (Economics) from the University of Southampton, UK, and an MPHIL (Economics) from the University of Ghana, Legon.
During the 2024 campaigns, he proposed a series of comprehensive policies for "resetting" Ghana's economy, emphasizing the necessity for significant reforms to address structural flaws and create long-term prosperity.
He proposed that increasing the effectiveness of the legal system, regulatory organizations, and financial institutions, as well as combating corruption and improving governance, is critical to creating a strong economic climate.
Dr. Asiama pushes for comprehensive banking sector changes to restore stability and ensure effective capital allocation.
Farihan Alhasan
The second person thought to be under consideration and maybe campaigning for the position is Farihan Alhassan, Head of Business and Commercial Banking at Stanbic Bank, who is known to be close to the Mahamas, particularly Ibrahim.
Farihan is a Tamale native and seasoned financial specialist with over 17 years of banking experience. He is currently the executive in charge of one of Stanbic Bank Ghana's three business units, the Business & Commercial Clients section.
Farihan is a former student at Presby Experimental Primary and JHS in Tamale, Tamale Secondary School, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where he earned his first degree. He has an MBA in Finance from GIMPA and a master's degree in economic policy management from the University of Ghana Legon.
Al Hassan Andani.
Alhassan Andani is an economist and the grandson of Naa Andani, who ruled Dagbon during colonial times. He founded and serves as the chairman of Leadership Vision Strategy Africa. Mr.Andani is a former CEO of Stanbic Bank and purportedly Farihan Alhassan's mentor.
He is a former board chairwoman of the Ghana Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a director of SOS Villages Ghana, and has previously served on various corporate boards. He possesses a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Ghana and an MA in Banking and Finance from the Finafrica Institute in Italy.
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