Acting Spokesperson to President John Mahama, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has clapped back at Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, regarding his concerns about the appointment of Dr. Johnson Asiamah as Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
The NPP MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, had earlier raised concerns about Dr. Asiamah assuming official duties as the newly nominated Governor of the Bank of Ghana before his appointment was approved by the Council of State, which has yet to be constituted.
He described this move as a breach of constitutional procedures and called on President Mahama to suspend Dr. Asiamah’s engagement until the Council of State is formed and gives its approval.
“With all due respect, Your Excellency, it is concerning that an individual who has merely been nominated—and whose appointment is still pending approval by the Council of State—has taken on the responsibilities of the office in the absence of such approval. This raises serious procedural and constitutional concerns,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin had said.
In a social media post responding to Afenyo-Markin’s concerns, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu described the Minority Leader’s position as inconsistent and questioned why similar appointments made by President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2017 did not attract such objections.
The Minister for Government Communications cited President Akufo-Addo’s appointment of Ms. Irene Naa Torshie Addo as Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund in 2017, pending consultation with a yet-to-be-formed Council of State.
He referred to the appointment letter dated February 10, 2017, in which President Akufo-Addo explicitly stated that Ms. Addo was to act as Administrator of the fund until the necessary consultations were concluded.
“Pursuant to the authority vested in me under Article 252 (4) of the Constitution and pursuant to section 14 (2) of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845), I hereby appoint you to act as the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund, pending the statutorily required consultation with a yet-to-be-reconstituted Council of State,” part of the letter from President Akufo-Addo reads.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu maintained that Afenyo-Markin’s concerns lack merit, given that the precedent set by the previous administration followed the same procedure.
“The Minority Leader complains about Dr. Johnson Asiamah’s appointment as BoG Governor pending consultations with the yet-to-be-formed Council of State. Here is the same procedure used to appoint the Common Fund Administrator by President Akufo-Addo in 2017. What sayeth him about this?” Mr. Kwakye Ofosu remarked.
