The new Managing Director of the struggling National Investment Bank (NIB), Tweneboa Kodua Fokuo has mounted a strong defence against calls for his resignation.

Mr Fokuo also serves as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the upcoming 2024 election, a position which has become the source of controversy in the wake of his fresh appointment.

However, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and civil society have expressed concerns about the potential conflict of interest in this arrangement. Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa, is seeking explanations for the decision to appoint a Parliamentary Candidate to such a position.

His appointment as Managing Director took effect on Monday, May 13, succeeding Mr Samuel Sarpong, the outgoing MD.

Despite the criticisms, Mr Fokuo is pushing back against these claims.

Speaking on Joy FM's Top Story, he indicated that the concerns raised by various parties are unfounded.

Mr Fokuo communicated his ability to effectively manage his time, asserting that he can balance both his political and professional responsibilities to the benefit of all involved.

"I have no challenges in managing my time between ensuring the bank is run properly and also doing my duties at my leisure time as a P.C. There has not been a time that I have had a challenge in running these duties," he said.

MP for Pru West, Dr Kwabena Donkor weighed in on the conversation pointing out that the NIB has made losses in recent times.

"Let us not pretend like NIB is out of the woods, it is a loss making entity. It has made losses for the last 5 years. They have structural problems, we are aware of all those things," he said on the show.

On the back of this, Dr Donkor who doubles as a Ranking Member on State Entreprises, questioned the timing of the appointment.

But the NPP Parliamentary Candidate insisted that "we are at an upward trajectory now, we are turning around."