Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has descended heavily on the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Addison, for his reaction to Minority-led demonstration on Tuesday.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP described as “provocative”, “uncourteous” and “condescending” the words of Dr Addison.
Barely 24 hours after the protest dubbed #OccupyBoGProtest, the central bank Governor told Central Banking in an interview that the march “was completely unnecessary”.
The Minority staged the demonstration, demanding the resignation of not only the Governor but also his two deputies – Dr Maxwell Opoku-Afari and Elsie Addo Awadzi.
However, leadership of the caucus failed to present its petition as a result of the official elected to receive the protest organisers. The Director of Security was delegated to receive the petition.
Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson vowed they would return to hand over the petition to Dr Addison in person and felt disrespected that he did not show up for the petition.
But in his interview, the Governor said neither he nor his deputies have any intentions to resign.
“The Minority in Parliament have many channels to channel their grievances in civilised societies, not through demonstrations in the streets as hooligans,” he added.
But speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 on Wednesday, Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa questioned many decisions by the Governor, stressing that they are infractions against the Bank of Ghana Act.
He bemoaned the seeming contempt that Dr Addison is showing parliamentarians, the people’s representatives.
“And this Governor has the effrontery, has the audacity to talk to MPs, the people’s representatives this way?”
He says it does not lie in the mouth of the Governor to determine the mode of carrying out legitimate protests against societal ills like his infractions of the laws.
“We can decide to demonstrate, we can decide to picket, we can decide to write letters, we can decide to file motions, we can decide not to act at all. These are all democratic avenues available to us.”
The NDC MP said in other jurisdictions Dr Addison would have been “languishing in jail long ago”.
He assured that the Governor will not get away with his actions.