The Minority in Parliament has written to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) requesting for more information relating to the cost and processes involved in the procurement of land for its new headquarters building at Ridge in Accra.

The NDC Caucus is also demanding for the names of the consultants and project managers.

This follows weeks of debate on why the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Ernest Addison is spending $250 million to build a new head office when the Bank is in financial difficulties.

Earlier, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) had explained that its current Head Office building, which was built in the 1960s by the Nkrumah Government has failed a structural integrity assessment.

Read also : BoG’s new head office initially cost $81.8m instead of the current $250m – Ablakwa discloses

It said, the edifice “is no longer fit for purpose and could not stand any major earth tremors.”

In a press release on Tuesday, August 9, the central bank defended its decision by adding that, “The outcome of the structural integrity work was that the main building does not satisfy the full complement of excess strength required for a building to be considered safe for usage.

“This means that in the case of a worst-case gravity and wind loading scenario, for example, unusually strong wind, the building may be significantly affected.”

But the NDC insists it is not prudent for BoG to start the building of a new headquarters after recording a GH¢60.8 billion loss and negative equity of 55 per cent for 2022.

Backing this stance in a letter sighted by JoyNews and signed by the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, the Caucus said more information should be provided by BoG within seven working days.

"I am instructed by Ing. Kwame Governs Agbodza, the representative of the Adaklu Constituency and Chief Whip of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in the Parliament of Ghana (Minority Chief Whip) to write to you to request for the following information:

"The financing arrangement of the construction of the new headquarters building of the Bank of Ghana at Ridge in Accra and currently under construction."

Read more: Current BoG Head Office edifice built in early 1960s can’t withstand earthquakes – BoG justifies new ¢250m building

Again, BoG must detail, "The cost, scope of works, bill of quantities and contract start and completion dates of the new headquarters building of the Bank of Ghana currently under construction at Ridge in Accra, and "how the land on which the new headquarters building of the Bank of Ghana currently under construction at Ridge in Accra was procured and at what price or under what arrangement and from who."

Mr. Ayariga added that the demands are being made "pursuant to section 18 of the Right to Information Act 2019 (Act 989).

Meanwhile, the North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has released documents insisting that the original value of the planned new head office for the Bank of Ghana was about US$82m instead of the US$250m being quoted now by officials of the bank. 

In a Facebook post on Thursday, August 17, Mr Ablakwa revealed among other things that the processes for the project commenced in 2020 contrary to allegations made by officers of the New Patriotic Party NPP that it started under the erstwhile John Mahama government.