The Minority in Parliament has called on President John Dramani Mahama to allow the prosecution of Dr Johnson Pandit Asiamah to continue, despite his appointment as acting Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
At a press conference on Wednesday, 5th February, the Minority, led by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano North, Dr Gideon Boako, expressed disappointment over the discontinuation of the case by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine.
According to the Minority, Dr Asiamah should be made to go through the full legal process to determine his innocence or guilt before assuming the critical role of Governor.
“We are at a loss as to why President Mahama could not wait for the completion of the adjudication process before appointing Dr Asiamah or allow the case to still run while he appoints him,” they stated.
They argued that in the interest of the state, the government, and Dr Asiamah himself, it is essential to establish his legal standing before allowing him to take charge of the country’s central bank.
The Minority further criticised the government’s decision to halt the prosecution, suggesting that it casts doubt on Dr Asiamah’s credibility.
“For a government that is birthed from a party which purports to be lovers of probity and accountability, we firmly believe that President Mahama should allow the charges against Dr Asiamah to stand even as he carries out his duties as Governor when he is finally approved,” they asserted.
They also expressed concern that the move to discontinue proceedings raises suspicions about Dr Asiamah’s integrity, implying that he may not be fit for such a sensitive position.
Highlighting Ghana’s current economic situation and its engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Minority stressed the need for absolute credibility in financial leadership.
“This sly attempt to discontinue the proceedings of the criminal charges against Dr Asiamah is the more reason why we think he, a potential criminal convict, should not be heading an important and sensitive office as the Governor of the central bank,” they declared.
They emphasised that at a time when Ghana is under an IMF programme, the country cannot afford to compromise on transparency and accountability in its financial governance.