The current Deputy Division Chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dr Maxwell Opoku Afari has been appointed as the First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

Information available to JOYBUSINESS is that he assumed office this Monday morning and he was introduced to the staff of the Central Bank.

The position became vacant after the current Deputy Governor, Millison Narh announced his decision to retire.

The decision was communicated following a meeting with the President, Nana Akufo-Addo at the Flagstaff House on last Monday.

Top on the list is the current the Deputy Division Chief at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr Maxwell Opoku Afari, who has been at the position from September 2014 to present.

He holds a doctorate from the University of Nottingham. From December 2012 to August 2014 served as a senior economist at the IMF working with the strategy, policy and review department.

He has been with the IMF for over 8 years. Before joining the IMF, he served as the special assistant to the then governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr Paul Acquah from 2006 to 2009.

He also worked in several capacities at the Bank including, head of special studies from 2005 to May 2006 and Senior Economist from 1996 to 2000.

He was also an adjunct Professor at Regent University from 2005 to 2009.

Some analysts say what might work for Dr Afari is his international exposure and his being part of the team that championed recent reforms in the banking sector.