The governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiamah, appeared before Parliament today to brief lawmakers on the cost of the newly constructed Bank of Ghana headquarters at Ridge in Accra. In a dramatic turn of events, the first deputy speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, temporarily suspended the parliamentary sitting for five minutes. This was to enable consultation on whether the governor of the Bank of Ghana (BOG) should brief the house on the cost of the newly constructed BOG headquarters.
The discussion comes amid concerns from the minority that the appearance of the governor was not formally scheduled in the week’s business statement, raising procedural objections.
The debate on the floor was fueled by the majority caucus, led by Mahama Ayariga, who insisted that the invitation to the governor was valid and necessary. According to Ayariga, the Bank of Ghana headquarters project had been a subject of public concern, and Parliament had the right to seek accountability. He stated that the issue was discussed in a business committee meeting and included in the House’s adopted schedule for the week.
“The governor is not carrying a gun. He is only carrying a piece of paper, a sheet of paper, to give us simple information. This is the House of Parliament, the representatives of the people,” Ayariga remarked.
This follows a long-standing demand from legislators, particularly the minority caucus, who had previously petitioned the presidency and staged protests for full disclosure of the project’s financial details.
On the other hand, the minority, led by Afenyo Makin, argued that the proper protocol for such inquiries was not followed. They contended that questions regarding the Bank of Ghana’s new headquarters should have been formally filed, allowing the governor to respond in a structured manner. Some members also suggested that the matter could have been handled in a closed-door session rather than an open parliamentary sitting.
The controversy dates back to 2023 when the then-minority, now the majority, persistently demanded transparency on the construction cost of the Bank of Ghana headquarters. The project was commissioned in November 2024 by former President Nana Akufo-Addo, who lauded the initiative, emphasizing its importance in modernizing Ghana’s financial infrastructure and improving the efficiency of the central bank’s operations.
Despite the procedural disputes, the majority caucus maintains that the Bank of Ghana governor should proceed with the briefing. They argue that similar precedents exist, as Parliament has previously summoned other constitutional bodies, such as the Electoral Commission and the Auditor-General, to provide updates in committee meetings.
Currently, discussions have been concluded and Dr. Asiamah is addressing the house.
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