The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, has emphasised that the role of modern central banks extends beyond setting policies, stressing that “central banks are no longer judged only by policies we set, but by the trust we sustain.”
Speaking at the opening of the Bank of Ghana–Bank of England Pan-African Central Bank Governors’ Conference in Accra, Governor Asiama described central bankers as “custodians of public trust, men and women who know what it means to carry a nation’s expectations in a single policy rate.”
He acknowledged the immense responsibility and pressure that comes with leading a central bank, saying, “Leading a central bank has never been for the faint-hearted. We balance data with intuition, independence with coordination, and sometimes, optimism with insomnia.”
Governor Asiama also shared the personal toll of the role, revealing, “You never sleep the same again. You start checking your phone not for messages, but for markets. Even silence feels like a signal.” He added that despite the challenges, there is a reward in knowing that “in moments of uncertainty, the country still trusts us to steady the ship.”
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The two-day conference, held under the theme “Central Bank Governance: Leadership, Credibility, and Resilience in African Central Banking,” brings together governors and deputy governors from 23 African central banks. The event is designed to encourage candid discussions on leadership, accountability, and sustaining credibility in the face of economic and political pressures.
Governor Asiama highlighted that credibility depends not just on decisive action, but on disciplined collaboration, noting, “Independence is not isolation. Monetary and fiscal authorities are like two drummers playing different rhythms, yet stability demands harmony.”
He further stressed the importance of effective communication, saying, “A policy is only credible when it makes sense to the woman selling tomatoes down the road,” underlining the need for central bankers to explain policy in ways that resonate with the public.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
