Bank of Ghana officials who showe d up in front of the head office to receive a petition from the leadership of Tuesday's protest have congratulated organisers for a peaceful march.
“Like I said earlier we want to congratulate you for the peaceful demonstration that you have conducted today,” the Director of Security at the Bank, Wing Commander (rtd) Kwame Asare Boateng, warmly told the organisers.
“We were informed that you will be coming to present a petition to the Governor,” he stated.
He, however, indicated the inability of the Governor and his two deputies to meet the Minority leadership to receive the petition, the reason he has been selected to do so.
“The three governors as we speak are currently meeting the IMF. . .and there is nobody there.
“So, the Governor has asked that I meet you and take the petition on his behalf and we will accordingly respond to the petition.”
The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who has also been a board member of the Bank in the previous administration, expressed disappointment Dr Ernest Addison failed to show up to receive the petition.
“First, let me say that I feel very disrespected as the leader of the opposition in Parliament for a simple reason that we demanded to present a petition to the Governor of the central bank of the Republic of Ghana otherwise known as the Bank of Ghana.
“The Governor has two deputies, namely Deputy 1 and Deputy 2. Unfortunately, he has decided to disrespect us and the two deputies have also decided to disrespect us by not being here and to receive our petition.
“We never said we were going to present our petition to the head of Security or someone responsible for security with all due respect.”
Dr Ato Forson served notice they will return to present the petition to Dr Addison in person.
“Until we see him, we are not stopping. This is just the beginning.”
Background
The idea of demonstration was mooted by the Minority after the Bank of Ghana recorded a GH¢60.8 billion loss in its books in 2022.
Notwithstanding the loss, the central bank devoted over $200 million for the construction of an ultra-modern headquarters.
The Minority also got wind of the writing off of government's debt to the bank while monies were said to have been overprinted in contravention of the Bank of Ghana Act.
The caucus had initially given the Governor and his deputies 21 days within which to resign.
However, after the ultimatum elapsed, the caucus escalated its demand to a street march.
The initial date of the demonstration was Tuesday, September 5 but the police secured an injunction to stop it.
A second date of Tuesday, September 12, 2023 was also disagreed with.
Tuesday, October 3 is the third date and that was nearly scuttled but for a High Court ruling.
The Court held on Friday, September 29 that the processes leading to the service of the application on respondents was ineffective.