Energy expert and former Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Volta River Authority (VRA) Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby has questioned the significance of the Central Bank of the Year award won by the Bank of Ghana when the country is facing significant challenges with respect banking.
Dr Wereko-Brobby cited the recent blacklisting of the country by the European Union, the directive from the ING Bank to Ghana’s embassy in Brussels to close its account among others as reasons why the central Bank’s award may not be significant.
“#BOG, U win ‘Award’ 4 wetin? #OmanGhana blacklisted by #EU; EMB _ accounts closed down; Jersey tax_havens? #HOWMuchDidUPAY?” He quizzed on social media.
The Bank of Ghana(BoG) was earlier this week presented with the Central Bank of the Year Award by the Central Banking Awards Committee.
The award according to the BoG, the award is in recognition of its “successful implementation of monetary policy and impressive achievement in reforming the banking sector in Ghana.”
“With humility and profound gratitude, I accept this award on behalf of the Board, Management, and Staff of the Bank of Ghana. Thank you all for sharing in the vision to ensuring macroeconomic stability and establish a stable, sound, and resilient banking sector to support the country’s growth and development agenda. I am hopeful that we will continue on this path and consolidate the far-reaching gains of macroeconomic and financial stability in Ghana”, Dr Ernest Addison, Governor of BoG said about the award.
But Dr Wereko-Brobby has asserted that the bank may not be deserving of the award given the current banking challenges faced by the country.
Meanwhile the EU has explained that the blacklisting of the bank has nothing to do with direct money laundering but Ghana’s failure to put in place checks to prevent the possibility of money laundering.
According to the Head of Delegation of the EU to Ghana, there is “no evidence of money laundering in Ghana.”
