North Tongu Constituency MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has criticised the Bank of Ghana (BoG) governor, Dr. Ernest Addison for his failure to meet with the leadership of Tuesday’s #OccupyBoG protest.

According to him, Dr. Addison's refusal to engage with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the thousands of demonstrators who participated in the protest symbolised his disrespect and disregard for the Ghanaian populace.

Speaking on JoyFM, Mr Ablakwa stated that the NDC had anticipated a face-to-face meeting with Dr. Addison or his deputies to accept their petition, not merely a representative from his security team.

He clarified that “The aim was to make sure that the governor receives the petition, sees the crowd, sees how angry we are and how he has run down the Central Bank.”

The North Tongu Constituency MP stated that the Central Bank is currently facing severe financial challenges, being technically insolvent and having incurred unprecedented losses of GHS60.8 billion.

He accused Dr. Addison of printing GHS77 billion in currency without parliamentary approval, which he said was a clear violation of Section 30 of the Bank of Ghana’s Act.

Mr Ablakwa explained that the least Dr Addison could do was to show up and received the petition but “he continued with his disdain, disregard for the Ghanaian people just as he is flouting the country’s laws with impunity, decided that he won’t show up and sent his head of security to receive the petition.”

He reiterated that the NDC's primary objective was to meet with the BoG governor and formally present their petition, as a call to demand his resignation.

He, however, wondered why the BoG had a director with two deputies including senior directors of which none of them were sent to receive the petition.

“The message on us was very clear, let’s send the head of security, let’s treat this whole demonstration with contempt but what they forget is that in the process, they have only exposed their own disdain and disrespect for the Ghanaian people.”

Ablakwa clarified that Dr. Addison holds a position of public service, funded by the people and argued that in light of his alleged breaches of the law, the least he could do was show some remorse and exhibit respect for Ghanaians.

“So if they had sent at least the deputy governors or some senior staff, we would have considered the presentation of the petition but to send your head of security, it’s wrong,” he said.