Minority threatens IMF petition over dropped charges against BoG acting Governor

The Minority in Parliament has sharply criticized President John Dramani Mahama for halting criminal charges against Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiamah, the acting Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

Speaking at a press conference on February 5, the Minority, led by Tano North MP Dr. Gideon Boako, argued that the prosecution should continue regardless of Dr. Asiamah’s appointment, warning that dropping the charges could have serious implications for governance and accountability.

The Minority expressed concern that the decision to discontinue the case could harm Ghana’s political and economic standing.

They warned that global financial institutions might hesitate to engage with Ghana, fearing the charges could be reinstated by a future Attorney-General, potentially increasing the cost of international transactions.

“We are not saying Dr. Asiamah is guilty, but stopping the case doesn’t clear him of wrongdoing. Future governments could bring the charges back, which could damage confidence in his decisions as Governor,” they said.

The Minority also raised concerns about how Dr. Asiamah’s unresolved legal issues could affect Ghana’s credibility on the global stage.

“Allowing someone with legal uncertainties to lead the central bank could undermine financial policy-making and damage Ghana’s reputation,” they added.

In response, the Minority announced plans to inform the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of their concerns.

“We will write to the IMF, as Dr. Asiamah will sit on the IMF Board of Governors, which could expose Ghana to international criticism,” the minority stated.

They called for transparency and accountability, particularly given Ghana’s ongoing IMF programme and the need for strong, trustworthy financial leadership.