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BoG Governor ‘Swerve’: We will come after him, until we see him, we are not stopping- Minority
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 for refusing to receive their petition in person.
According to him, as the Minority Leader he feels disrespected by the absence of the BoG Governor and his two deputies for sending the Director of Security, Wing Commander Kwame Asare Boateng to meet 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 see him they are not stopping.
“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 said “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 further told the Head of Security that he is not the one responsible and for that reason the minority will not give him their petition, adding that “Let me also say that in summary, this Governor and 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 said, “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 now that Dr.Addison has decided to disrespect them, they will not present their petition.
“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.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
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Youth urged to take proactive stance on ozone depletion
•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student
Mr Joseph Amankwah, the Director of Ozone Layer and Climate Change at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has urged the youth to take a proactive stance on issues related to ozone depletion, emphasising that their future would be most affected by its consequences.
Speaking during a student engagement event at the Ghana Secondary School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, he highlighted the critical role young people played in tackling climate-related challenges.
Mr Amankwah explained that human activities, such as the use of certain chemicals, were significantly contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and driving climate change.
He said it was important to educate the youth on these issues, encouraging them to share this knowledge with their families to foster a broader understanding and active participation in climate action.
He urged the education sector to integrate lessons on the ozone layer, the causes of its depletion, and its links to climate change into the curriculum.
The event, organised by the EPA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was designed to foster environmental awareness and promote a sense of responsibility among young people.
Mr Amankwah noted that ozone layer depletion was affecting everyone, including children, as it alters weather patterns and threatens the natural environment.
He highlighted the need for young people to develop ‘green skills’ to adapt to the challenges of climate change and to understand ways to combat it.
He added that World Ozone Day, observed every September, would focus on youth engagement in environmental issues, to help them understand the long-term consequences of ozone depletion and climate change.
Mr Amankwah also discussed the harmful impact of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a major chemical contributor to ozone depletion.
He explained that household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners were common sources of CFC emissions in Ghana.
Many uncertified technicians work on these appliances, often releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere due to improper handling, he noted.
To address this, he urged appliance repairers to obtain proper certification and training, emphasising that unqualified repairs not only harm the environment but also endangered public health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman,
Koforidua
