Ebenezer Teye Larbi, a Member of Parliament (MP) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who represents the Lower Manya Krobo Constituency, has expressed concern over the Police stance in advance of a protest against Dr. Ernest Addison, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

He revealed that outside forces are influencing the police to stop the protest planned for September 5, 2023 and as such, he believed that that is why the police does not want to allow them use the route sought for the demonstration.

Since the area around and within Bank of Ghana is regarded as a security zone, the police raised security concerns and asked the demonstrators to use another route. However, the NDC MP asserted on Thursday that the Police stance is motivated by politics.

He claimed that the Police decision to reverse course after giving them clearance, following a successful meeting was an “afterthought.” “Why will somebody after agreeing with us, change his mind? Do they sell bomb at Bank of Ghana? Someone is just showing off power,” he fumed.

As argued by Mr. Teye Larbi, nothing will stop them from sending a petition to the BoG Governor, which is their stated goal. Furthermore, he said that any attempt by the police to repress the will of the people, would be fiercely resisted. “Don’t allow yourselves to be remote-controlled. The police should be resolute and be professional in the discharge of their duties,” he added.

However, Professor Kingsley Nyarko, Kwadaso MP of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) criticized the NDC for inciting unrest in the nation. He emphasized that the BoG Governor’s protest is “unnecessary” in light of the Central Bank’s justification for its enormous debt.

Prior to the 2024 general election, Professor Nyarko claimed that the NDC was only using the protest to earn easy political points.

BoG Governor And Deputies Should Be Celebrated For Saving Economy

Former Central Regional Minister and prominent NPP member, Kwamena Duncan, has called for the celebration of Dr. Ernest Addison, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, and his two Deputy Governors, Dr. Maxwell Opoku-Afari and Elsie Addo Awadzi, for preventing the collapse of the economy.

Mr. Duncan claimed that in 2022, the Ghanaian economy was in dire straits and was about to collapse, if the Governor and his staff had not stepped in.

His remarks come as the Minority Caucus in Parliament has made plans to stage a demonstration on September 5, 2023, to call for the resignation of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, over claims of financial mismanagement and malfeasance.

Kwamena Duncan stated that Dr. Addison and his deputies deserved praise and celebration for rescuing the economy. He also noted that many people questioned whether the economy was in trouble because they were unaware that interest payments would not be made in early 2022, due to the fact that they never witnessed lines at the gas stations, and that there were no shortages of necessities on the market.

Thus, he averred that since the Bank of Ghana had given the necessary assistance to keep the economy moving, even civil servants like the police and the military had their salaries paid.

“This is what the Governor and his Deputies; this is what they chose to do to get this country going, this is what they did. It is only an unappreciative citizenry, it is only an opposition that wants power at all costs; an opposition that unfortunately we have known. Their period in office we have seen it, the person they have selected to lead them, we know him [John Mahama] but they want power at all costs. This is the opposition.
“At a meeting with the IMF, the Ministry of Finance, and all the stakeholders, the IMF said we can’t leave a vacuum, you have to continue to support the government. If you compare with other governments elsewhere, Ghana is better off.”
Kwamena Duncan