‘Don’t make yourself a tool for political football’ – Afenyo-Markin to BoG Governor

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has advised the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Johnson Asiama, to avoid political controversies and maintain the independence of his office.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, March 5, during Dr. Asiama’s appearance to address concerns regarding the cost of the BoG’s new headquarters, Afenyo-Markin cautioned against selective scrutiny of the central bank’s actions.

“I recall that in the 2015 State of the Nation Address, Mr. President [John Dramani Mahama] raised concerns about poor supervision of the banking sector by the Bank of Ghana. The governor today was the deputy governor then. Are we now picking and choosing which matters we want the governor to brief us on?” he questioned.

He further urged Dr. Asiama to resist political influence, warning, “Mr. Governor, don’t make yourself a tool for political football. The role of the governor of the central bank is critical to the economy of this country. I do not want to politicise the office of the governor, and I urge others to do the same.”

Additionally, Afenyo-Markin called on the Majority in Parliament to approach economic discussions with caution, emphasizing that their handling of such matters could have significant consequences for Ghana’s financial stability.

His remarks came amid ongoing debates over the BoG’s new headquarters, with the Minority opposing the session, arguing that due process had not been followed, while the Majority defended its legitimacy.