Minority leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has vowed to demand the exit of the Governor for the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Ernest Addison from office today.
Addressing the media in the ongoing OccupyBoG protest today, October 3, 2023, he revealed that the minority along with protestors are ready to work with the Ghana Police Service to ensure peace during the protest.
He indicated that the protest is organized by the minority in parliament which is the “official opposition in this country” and as such, have every right under the constitution to protest.
Furthermore, Dr Forson noted that as part of the minority’s oversight responsibilities, it can use routes approved by the police to express its revulsion against the conduct of the Central Bank.
“Our position is simple, the Ghana Police Service must show us where the security zones end – the so-called security zones, we will comply to that and get to the end of the security zone with the protestors. At that point, I, together with the leadership of the minority in parliament, must be allowed to walk to the Central Bank to present petition that should be received by the Governor himself.
“He must be the one to receive our petition and we won’t just hand it over to him, we will read it to his hearing, and we will demand his exit today. If he fails to exit, there’ll be series of actions against him.”
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson
Dr Forson insisted that if the Governor fails to receive the petition, the minority will stay at the premises of the Central Bank “till thy kingdom comes”. He stated that the minority is not protesting against staff, but against the conduct of a Governor, and its position is that he is the one to receive it.
“We are not handing over the petition to any other person – not his deputies, but he himself… He must hear the content of the petition. What happens when we give it to him, and he fails to read it? We want him to hear it and give him the justification why it is in his own interest and the interest of the people of Ghana for him to say bye to the Central Bank.”
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson
Minority lambasts government over state of the country
Moreover, Dr Forson accused the Bank of Ghana Governor of printing money for government to spend lavishly.
He insisted that with the economic crunch Ghanaians are witnessing today, it is only right that this “particular Governor should not be allowed to stay in office” because “he’s a printer”.
“Printing of money is like alcoholism, the perceived good effect comes immediate, and the hangover, comes after the party. This Akufo-Addo government, together with the Governor, hasn’t been fair to the people of Ghana. In fact, Governor Addison printed for President Akufo-Addo for them to live a champagne lifestyle on an akpeteshie budget – we can’t continue this way.”
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson
Justifying his stance, the minority leader highlighted the challenges and hardships endured by Ghanaians in the country. He stated that the actions of government and mismanagement of the country’s resources have occasioned the current plight of Ghanaians.
“Today, look at what is happening, Ghanaians are struggling, finding it very difficult to survive… So, clearly, what is happening in this country cannot continue. We want this government out; the Governor must go, and the President must be allowed to appoint a new set of Bank of Ghana team and that is what we are waiting for.”
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson
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