#OccupyBoGProtest to oust central bank governor takes off

Hundreds of protesters have hit the streets of Accra to denounce the economic crisis as a result of what they termed poor fiscal policy by the Bank of Ghana.

Led by the opposition National Democratic Congress, the protesters said the action of the governor of the Bank of Ghana Ernest Addison has led to hyperinflation and high cost of living.

The street protest is being organised by the NDC caucus in parliament, pressure group Arise Ghana, Justice for Ghana and other groups to demand the resignation of Addison and his deputies.

Speaking to the media, the Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson said the purpose of the protest was to express their revulsion against the illegal printing of money for the government, which led to a hyper inflation rate of 54.1% in December 2022.

He noted that the singular act of BoG had negatively impacted livelihoods and businesses and pushed about 850,000 Ghanaians into poverty in 2022 alone.

Dressed in red and black amidst chanting of patriotic songs, protestors carried placards with inscriptions such as “Akufo-Addo is wicked”, “We cannot buy medicine”, and “Corruption is killing us.”

“Things are too expensive now in Ghana,” Dorcas Antwi, a protester said. “We don’t have jobs. Our children are hungry and things must change.”

The protesters are marching from the Nkrumah Circle, Ridge roundabout, the National Theatre traffic light, the high court complex traffic light, and the Atta Mills Street. They will make a U-turn at the National Lottery traffic light and end the protest at the Independence Square.

Meanwhile, the police have  said it is committed to provide security at the #OccupyBoGProtest.

Below is the full statement released to the media after the briefing: