The police have informed theMinority in Parliamentthat protesting and picketing around the Bank of Ghana headquarters “may endanger public order, public safety and the running of essential services”.
The opposition MPs have therefore been asked to change their route in the lead up to the demonstration aimed at mounting pressure on the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Ernest Addison, and his two deputies to resign over alleged fiscal recklessness.
“The Bank of Ghana is a security installation, and accordingly the protest and picketing around the installation may endanger public order, public safety and the running of essential services,” Sayibu Pabi Gariba, the Accra regional police commander, said in a notice to the organisers.
“That the route from Makola through Rawlings Park and Opera Square are always overcrowded and over populated due to human and vehicular traffic,” the notice continued.
“Thus, considering the nature of activities during the day, security can easily be compromised. In that regard, using such route may lead to violence.”
“As requested today during our engagement, the command wishes to reiterate that you relocate the route and the destination for the picketing and therefore propose in the interest of public order, public safety among others that you commence the protest from the frontage of Parliament House through Osu Cemetery Traffic Light and terminate at the Independence Square,” Gariba said.
The largest opposition NDC has given the governor and his two deputies a 21-day ultimatum to resign for mismanagement of the economy. The Minority MPs said they will picket at the central bank’s head office if the governor refuses to comply by September 5.
The call has been backed by some pressure groups including AriseGhana.
“After painstakingly studying the damning revelations contained in the 2022 Report and financial statements of the Bank of Ghana, we have come to the conclusion that the Central Bank is in the unprecedented mess it presently finds itself because of crass mismanagement by the Addison-led board and management,” the convener, Comrade Rex Omar, said in a statement.
“We hold the view that the illegal printing of money by BoG in the years 2021 and 2022 to the tune of GHS77 billion to finance the recklessness of the corrupt Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government, in flagrant disregard of section 30 of the BOG Act (as amended) is the height of irresponsibility and must be condemned by all well-meaning Ghanaians,” he added.
