The Minority Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Dr.Cassiel Ato Forson who led the #OccupyBOGDemo today has expressed disappointment at the Governors of the Bank of Ghana (BOG) for refusing to receive their petition in person.
According to him, he felt disrespected as the Minority Leader by the absence of the BoG Governor and his two deputies, who sent the Director of Security, Wing Commander Kwame Asare Boateng to meet them and receive their petition instead.
He made these remarks when the Director of Security was made to receive the petition on behalf of the BOG Boss, on the excuse that they were having a meeting with a team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Against this backdrop, the minority leader declined to hand over the petition to the Director of Security of the Bank of Ghana, saying until they meet the governor and his deputies, they are not stopping their demonstration.
“First let me say that I feel disrespected as the leader of the Opposition in Parliament for the simple reason that we demanded to present a petition to the Governor of the Central Bank 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 his two deputies have also decided to disrespect us by not being here to receive the petition,” he said.
Furious Ato Forson blasted the Governors over their refusal to present themselves to accept the petition.
“We never said we were going to present our petition to the Director of Security or someone responsible for security with all due respect. They have actually mismanaged the affairs of the Central Bank; they have mismanaged the affairs of monetary policy. Today, Ghana, our beloved country, is on its knees.”
He then dismissed the Head of Security, further blasting the BOG Governor for his alleged incompetencies in his office.
“This Bank of Ghana led by Governor Addison has unilaterally printed up to GH₵ 80 billion in two years without recourse to parliament. Aside, they have unilaterally written off about GH₵ 48 Billion being the government’s debt. Let me say that all of these were done without parliamentary approval. Let the Governor be aware that the printing of money is like alcoholism. The perceived good effect comes immediately, but the hangover comes after the party.”
Describing the situation, the Minority leader kept on listing and speaking of alleged corrupt acts by the Governor and how it is affecting the country’s economy overall.
“Governor Addison printed money to finance the champagne lifestyle of President Akufo-Addo and Bawumia on an ‘Apeteshie budget’, today, our country is on it knees, the Central Bank of Ghana today is bankrupt technically, you are insolvent, you have a negative equity of 55.1 Billion and a loss one year of GH₵ 60 Billion. You have again projected to incur additional debt in the year 2023 and counting.”
“We will not allow you going forward to disrespect us and mismanage the affairs of the people of Ghana. Your act has indeed put 850,000 Ghanaians down the poverty line. We will hold you accountable, particularly the Governor. We are demanding his exit,” he added.
Ato Forson added that due to the supposed disrespect shown to them by the governors, they will not present their petition but will return to demonstrate over their cries.
“We will go and come back again, we will come back here again. We will come and demand to see him in person, the crowd you’ve seen is just the beginning. trust me we will come back again, if he thinks the IMF is more important than the parliament of Ghana, If he thinks that the IMF is more important than the people of Ghana, he is here because of the people of Ghana and not IMF. so let him deal with the IMF, we will come after him. Until we see him, we are not stopping. This is just the beginning a lot more will happen,” the Minority leader concluded.
