Before Ghana's 2024 election, many Ghanaians had called for the heads of some key government institutions to be removed from office after a change in government. They believed that some actions and behaviors of these heads of institutions showed they were being influenced by the current President and his administration.
Some of the institution heads mentioned include Madam Jean Adukwei Mensa (Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare (Ghana's current Inspector-General of Police), and Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkonoo (the current Chief Justice of Ghana) etc. These calls have grown louder, with many Ghanaians eagerly awaiting President Mahama's stance on these critical issues.
Recently, President Nana Akufo-Addo received a petition from Professor Kwaku Asare to remove Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo from office. The petition, filed on December 17, accuses the Chief Justice of misconduct, incompetence, and violating the constitution and administrative laws.
According to Professor Kwaku Asare, the Chief Justice's actions undermine the credibility and integrity of Ghana's judiciary, making her removal necessary to maintain public trust. However, some Ghanaians think the petition is unlikely to succeed since the Chief Justice was appointed by the current President.
As Ghana prepares for the inauguration of President-elect John Dramani Mahama, a critical question looms: will the incoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration heed the calls from Ghanaians to remove the above mentioned key figures from their positions?
Surprisingly, one big name has been missing from among list; and that happened to be Dr. Ernest Kwamina Addison the current governor of the Bank of Ghana, who was accused for allegedly engaging in wasteful spending on the new Bank Of Ghana (BoG) Corporate Head Office building; and also his refusal to answer questions on the latest cost of the building.
Reflecting on the July 30, 2023 protests in Accra, members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) took to the streets to express their discontent with the alleged mismanagement by Dr. Ernest Addison, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana. The protesters alleged that Addison's mismanagement had led to a surge in the cost of living and high inflation rates in Ghana.
The protest was part of a broader movement by the opposition NDC to hold the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government accountable for its economic policies. The NDC blamed Dr, Addison for his alleged role in the economic mismanagement and decisions that led to a GHC 60bn loss by the Bank of Ghana.
The NDC's concerns about Addison's management of the Bank of Ghana were further highlighted in their 2024 manifesto, where they promised to "restore the licenses of wrongfully collapsed financial institutions" and "restructure the Bank of Ghana to strengthen its independence and operational efficiency.
As calls for the removal of key individuals, including Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkonoo and Madam Jean Mensa intensify, it's essential for Ghanaians to recall the events of July 30, 2023. The demand for Dr. Addison's removal and prosecution should also be reiterated as the new administration prepares to take office.
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