The Minority in Parliament has strongly opposed the nomination of Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama as Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), raising concerns about both the timing of his appointment and his suitability for the role.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Dr. Gideon Boako, Member of Parliament for Tano North, outlined the Minority’s objections, pointing to Dr. Asiama’s past legal troubles.
Until recently, he had been facing multiple criminal charges related to his role in the financial sector crisis, particularly the collapse of UniBank and UT Bank.
The Attorney-General, Dominic Ayine, withdrew all charges against Dr. Asiama last week, a move that has raised suspicions within the Minority.
“This is a matter of grave concern.”
“Dr. Asiama was under trial for serious criminal offences, some of which directly relate to his role at the Bank of Ghana. Yet, before the judicial process could run its course, President Mahama chose to nominate him to head the very institution responsible for overseeing and preventing the types of crimes he was standing trial for, ” Dr. Boako stated.
Dr. Asiama had been charged with fraudulent breach of trust and money laundering after allegedly approving an unsecured GH₵300 million facility from UniBank to Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) despite UniBank’s financial distress. Although the charges against him were dropped, other individuals implicated in the case, including former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and UT Bank founder Prince Kofi Amoabeng, remain on trial.
The Minority insists that Dr. Asiama’s nomination could harm Ghana’s international reputation. “How will the IMF and international financial bodies view us if one of our key representatives is a person facing serious allegations of criminal activity? What will this mean for Ghana’s credibility in the global financial markets?” Dr. Boako asked.
“This is not just a local issue; it affects our international reputation and could have serious economic consequences,” he added.
Another key issue raised was Dr. Asiama’s active involvement in central bank affairs before his formal confirmation. A statement from the Bank of Ghana on Monday, February 3, 2025, indicated that he had already assumed official duties as Governor.
The Minority affirmed this in their press conference, stressing that Dr. Asiama had taken on the role without the necessary approval from the Council of State.
“Supposing the Council of State, when it is constituted, doesn’t approve the President’s nomination of Dr. Asiama, what would be done about his presence and activities at the Bank of Ghana in the interim?” they questioned.
They have urged Dr. Asiama to refrain from engaging in official duties until his appointment is formally approved.
“We humbly suggest that Dr. Johnson Asiama ought to keep well away from the Bank of Ghana until his nomination is approved by the Council of State. He can ask for and get all the briefing he requires as he awaits the approval.”
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