President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his confidence in Dr. Johnson Asiama’s ability to lead the Bank of Ghana (BoG) as Governor, despite opposition from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the legality and appropriateness of his appointment.
The endorsement comes amid a contentious debate surrounding Dr. Asiama’s past legal challenges and his capacity to guide Ghana’s financial sector through its ongoing crisis.
The Minority in Parliament has been vocal in its opposition, citing Dr. Asiama’s previous involvement in the collapse of UniBank and UT Bank, for which he faced trial before the government eventually dropped all charges.
The NPP has raised concerns, arguing that his legal history undermines his suitability for the critical role of BoG Governor, a position that demands high integrity and trust.
However, during the swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Johnson Asiama as Governor and Dr. Zakari Mumuni as First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, President Mahama defended Dr. Asiama’s appointment, emphasising the need for experienced and decisive leadership to address the challenges facing Ghana’s financial sector.
“Ghana’s financial sector is in crisis and the task ahead demands experience foresight and decisive leadership. With Dr Asiama heading the Bank of Ghana, I am confident that we will rebuild trust in the institution, we will restore stability, and put our economy back on the path of sustained growth.
“I trust him with this responsibility knowing that he will serve with greater diligence and excellence,” he stated.
