Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has dismissed claims that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has arbitrarily dismissed 100 staff members, clarifying that the individuals in question were on probationary contracts which were not renewed.

Speaking in Parliament on Friday, 27th June, Mr Ayariga explained that the affected persons had been recruited during the final months of the previous Akufo-Addo administration and were placed on six-month probation terms.

“They were people who were recruited in the dying days of the administration of the previous government, and they were taken on a six-month probation,” he stated.

According to him, the Central Bank’s Governor acted within his legal mandate by choosing not to confirm the appointments after the probation period expired.

“If you fail a probation, the person is entitled not to permanently engage you, and so he decided not to continue,” Mr Ayariga said, adding that the situation should not be described as a “mass sacking”.

His comments came in response to demands from the Minority in Parliament for the BoG Governor to be summoned over what they perceived as an unjustified termination of appointments.

Mr Ayariga, however, disclosed that following interventions and appeals, the Governor had agreed to offer the affected individuals a second chance.

“Upon pleas and intervention, he has extended their probation for another six months to allow them to prove themselves,” he told the House.

The clarification is expected to calm rising political and public commentary over the matter, which had sparked concerns of politically motivated dismissals.

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