The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama, has stated that the old headquarters of the central bank lacked structural integrity, making the construction of a new facility necessary.
In his appearance before Parliament to address questions about the new headquarters, Dr. Asiama explained that discussions about the need for a new building began as far back as 2011.
During that time, the board considered acquiring land for the project, but no specific location was chosen before the board’s tenure ended.
“Mr. Speaker, even in 2016, when I was the Deputy Governor, the same issue was being considered; however, we could not settle on a specific location,” he said.
Dr. Asiama further revealed that a structural integrity audit was conducted on the existing headquarters in 2019, under a new board. The findings showed that the building, constructed in the late 1950s, had significant defects and was no longer fit for purpose.
“The existing headquarters had developed significant structural defects and was no longer fit for purpose,” he emphasized.
Despite concerns about the necessity and cost of the new building, Dr. Asiama defended the decision, asserting that expert assessments highlighted the need for a modern, structurally sound facility to ensure the effective operation of the central bank.
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