The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Constituency, Mahama Ayariga, has submitted a formal request to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for an immediate investigation into an alleged case of corruption concerning the construction of the new headquarters of the Bank of Ghana.

Ayariga has identified the Governor and his two Deputy Governors as the primary suspects in this case. He also urged the investigation to encompass the board members of the central bank and the contracting company responsible for the project. Furthermore, he called for an inquiry into the project consultants overseeing the work.

He emphasized that the Governor of the Bank of Ghana failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the significant increase in the project’s cost, which rose from USD121,807,851.94 to USD222,799,760.55. Ayariga noted that the scope of work increased by 36.9%, from 73,000 square meters to approximately 107,737 square meters.

Ayariga believes that the OSP holds the authority to investigate this matter to ensure that public funds are not misused for the benefit of a select few, citing the Office of Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).

The Minority in Parliament has criticized the central bank’s Governor and his deputies in light of the bank reporting a GH¢60.8 billion loss for 2022. Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, questioned the rationale behind the Bank of Ghana’s Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, allocating $250 million for the construction of a new headquarters during a period of financial difficulty for the institution. He accused the Governor of resorting to money printing to fund the project.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs held a demonstration on October 3, demanding Dr. Ernest Addison’s resignation. However, the Governor has remained resolute in his determination to stay in office, deeming the demonstration unnecessary.

Source | Ghana360news.com