CDM to petition IMF, others if Mahama fails to revoke Dr. Asiama's appointment as BoG boss
Dr. Johnson Asiama is the Acting BoG Governor
The Centre for Democratic Movement has condemned President John Dramani Mahama's appointment of Dr. Johnson Asiama as Acting Governor of the Bank of Ghana.
According to the group, the appointment violates constitutional principles, weakens financial oversight, and undermines public confidence in Ghana’s banking system.
A press release by the movement noted unresolved allegations related to Dr. Asiama’s role in Ghana’s financial sector crisis as a basis for its concerns about transparency and accountability.
Dr. Asiama was charged alongside nine individuals in connection with the collapse of some banks, facing charges such as fraudulent breach of trust, money laundering, conspiracy to commit a crime, and violations of the Bank of Ghana Act.
"Ghana, as a member of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), is obligated to promote integrity and accountability in public office. Article 7 of UNCAC mandates state parties to establish merit-based and transparent selection processes for public officials in positions of financial responsibility," parts of the release read.
The group asserted that by appointing Dr. Asiama without fully addressing concerns about his past actions, Ghana is failing to meet these international obligations.
"Similarly, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog against financial crimes, emphasizes that leadership in central banks should be free from ethical controversies to ensure sound financial governance. Several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have clear guidelines prohibiting the appointment of officials with unresolved financial misconduct allegations to key economic institutions," they added.
The group asserts that restoring trust in Ghana’s financial institutions requires merit-based appointments.
It added that, therefore, if the government fails to take urgent action, CDM "will have no choice but to petition key international bodies and donor institutions", including:
• The European Union Representative in Ghana
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• The World Bank
• The Chinese Embassy
• The U.S. Embassy
• Other major diplomatic missions and financial institutions.
SSD/AE
Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:
