Police grant approval for minority’s second #OccupyBoG protest

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The Ghana Police Service has approved the Minority caucus in Parliament’s second protest, scheduled for July 30.

The demonstration aims to call for the removal of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Ernest Addison, and his two deputies.

The police approval follows constructive discussions between the police and Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga. In a letter dated July 17, the police urged the organizers to ensure the protest does not disrupt public order.

The minority MPs contend that the governor, who they accuse of significant mismanagement at the Central Bank, should be replaced by a more competent individual.

On October 3, 2023, the caucus held a protest demanding the resignation of the governor and his deputies after the Bank reported a GH¢60.81 billion loss for the 2022 fiscal year and allocated over $250 million for a new headquarters. Although they intended to present a petition to the governor, he did not meet them personally and sent his head of security instead.

The initial protest was considered unsuccessful, leading the Minority caucus to plan a new protest, which took nearly a year to finalize.

During this period, MP Mahama Ayariga filed a Right to Information Act (RTI) request with the BoG, seeking details on the combined losses of approximately GH¢70 billion reported for 2022 and 2023, as well as the over GH¢250 million spent on the new headquarters and an under-construction clinic.