The Minority in Parliament says it stands firmly by its claims that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has printed GHC22.04bn to support the government’s budget without parliamentary approval.
The Central Bank had, in a statement, denied the claim made by the Ranking Member of the finance committee of parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
The Bank explained the amount of ¢22.04 billion represents net claims on government, and not new currency printed to support the budget.
But in response, the caucus says “BoG’s statement merely resorts to sophistry and less than candid ex post facto rationalisation.”
The response, signed by Dr Forson, said it expects the BoG to do the honourable thing by admitting to their transgressions and asserting their independence as they are guaranteed under Ghanaian law.
In addition, the caucus has posed six thought-provoking questions which they are demanding answers from the Bank.
Finally, they have urged the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana to come clean and seek parliamentary ratification in accordance with the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918).
Below is the full response from the caucus:
NDC CAUCUS IN PARLIAMENT’S RESPONSE TO BANK OF GHANA’S STATEMENT ON ITS ILLEGAL GHS22BILLION ILLEGAL MONEY PRINTING
The NDC Caucus in Parliament has noted with dismay, a Bank of Ghana (BoG) Press Release dated July 26, 2022, which sought to respond to my statement calling out the BoG for engaging in illegal money printing.
It must be emphasised right from the outset, and for the avoidance of any doubt, that the NDC Caucus in Parliament stands firmly by its original assertions.
It is regrettable to observe that the BoG in its response, merely resorts to sophistry and less than candid ex post facto rationalisation.
Instructively, information contained on page 97, under Appendix 2A totally and unambiguously discredits the claims of the BoG.
Reference is made to the BoG claim as captured in their July 26, 2022 press release that GHS6.2billion out of the GH22billion reflects on-lending of IMF SDR resources.
In stark contrast, the Minister for Finance’s Mid-Year Review reports at the page in the issue that there was no such on-lending. Indeed, there was zero on-lending contrary to the projected GHS4.53billion.
The other dishonest claim by the BoG relates to the assertion that some GHS2.8billion out of the infamous GHS22billion was a draw down from government’s own deposit for GETFund, DACF and NHIF.
This cannot be factual considering that Appendix 2C at page 99 of the Finance Minister’s Mid Year Review reports that all those statutory payments had long been released by the Ministry of Finance and spent by GETFund, DACF and NHIF.
How can the BoG claim to be lending money that has already been spent to government? The BoG must desist from its voodoo cover up and credit Ghanaians with some intelligence.
We expect the BoG to do the honourable thing by admiting to their transgressions and asserting their independence as they are guaranteed under Ghanaian law.
Let’s be clear, this is high powered money being injected through illegal printing into the economy, hence the 33.8% growth in BoG’s balance sheet as at June 2022 and this should be extremely troubling to all well-meaning Ghanaians.
The BoG may be minded to respond to the following critical questions:
- If a bank is holding Government stocks or bonds and wishes to discount them, the Ghana Fixed Income Market is where such banks can engage in secondary trading for liquidity purposes. Why has it become BoG’s primary duty?
- Why has BoG over the last many months curtailed lending to banks but is busy lending to Government at the same time?
- How is BoG implementing monetary policy currently, given the truncation in its monetary operations?
- What are the measures being implemented to fight inflation and anchor inflation expectations currently, particularly when the policy rate has been muted and also, given the fact that BoG’s gold purchase programme is itself inflationary?
- Why is BoG ignoring the adverse impact of fiscal dominance on the effectiveness of its monetary policy?
- Is BoG taking cognizance of the adverse impact of monetary financing and illegal printing of money in the midst of a major economic crisis where inflation approaches an unprecedented 30% and is expected to rise further?
The NDC Parliamentary Caucus wishes to remind the BoG that under Section 3(1) of the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918). BoG is given every power to resist instructions from Government or any other authority. Therefore, notwithstanding Section 30(7) of the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918), the Bank of Ghana has full powers in the face of excessive monetary growth, to limit BoG financing of government.
Our constitutional mandate is to hold the government in check and we expect BoG to do same and ensure that its support to government is not unlawful and excessive. This is a sacred mandate to the Ghanaian people.
Finally, we urge the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana to come clean and seek parliamentary ratification in accordance with the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918).
Signed,
Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson
(MP, Ajumako Enyian Assiem Constituency and Ranking Member, Finance Committee)