The Minority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has strongly criticized the assumption of office by the newly nominated Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), stating that the appointment process is incomplete without the approval of the Council of State.
Speaking on GHOne TV’s State of Affairs with Lantam Papanko, Afenyo-Markin described the situation as a “serious constitutional blunder,” arguing that the nominee cannot assume office without undergoing the legally required consultation process.
“Mr. President [John Dramani Mahama] issued a letter to the public through his spokesperson, who is also a Member of Parliament, announcing that someone has been nominated as the Governor of the Central Bank, pending the confirmation of the Council of State,” Afenyo-Markin explained. “Does that mean the nominee can immediately assume office? No. These are serious governance matters that we cannot ignore.”
He further clarified that under Ghana’s constitutional framework, the appointment of a Bank of Ghana Governor is not a unilateral decision by the President. Instead, it requires consultation with the Council of State before the nominee is officially sworn in and assumes office.
In a press statement dated Friday, January 31, 2025, the Presidency formally announced the nomination of Dr. Johnson Asiama as the new Governor of the Bank of Ghana. The statement confirmed that Dr. Asiama’s appointment was pending the necessary consultation with the Council of State, in line with constitutional requirements.
Despite this, reports indicate that Dr. Asiama has already begun engaging with the central bank, a move that has drawn criticism from the Minority in Parliament.
Afenyo-Markin emphasized that Ghana currently does not have a fully constituted Council of State, making it impossible for the necessary consultation to take place. “If the Governor is retiring, there are two Deputy Governors who can act in his stead, as they have already gone through the Council of State’s confirmation process,” he noted.
He questioned why the nominee was already engaging with the Bank of Ghana as its Governor when the constitutional requirements had not been fulfilled. “You don’t just walk into the office and declare yourself Governor. That’s not how it works,” he said.
The Minority Leader indicated that his caucus would actively challenge this development, though he stopped short of specifying their exact course of action. “We will take it up. Maybe those at the Presidency need to look at the letter again and consult legal experts,” he stated.
Drawing comparisons with Supreme Court appointments, Afenyo-Markin argued that no nominee should assume office without following due process.
“For Supreme Court justices, after the Judicial Council advises the President, the Council of State must also be consulted before parliamentary approval. Can we say that a nominee should start sitting on the bench while waiting for approval? No.”
