The Minority caucus in Parliament has formally demanded the immediate presentation of the Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) 2025 audited financial statements. They state that failing to submit these accounts within the legal timeframe risks breaking the law. This issue emerged during discussions about parliamentary business for the final week of May. The move escalates a contentious debate surrounding the central bank’s financial condition and the government’s management of the economy.
The Bank of Ghana Act, specifically Section 58, requires completed audited accounts to be submitted to the Finance Minister within three months. The Minister then must ensure the accounts are gazetted and presented to Parliament. The Minority points out that the financial year ended in December 2025. Parliament is now beyond the April deadline, entering the last week of May, without the statements being tabled. The Ofoase-Ayirebi MP, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, raised this concern on the parliamentary floor, highlighting the potential legal violation.
This dispute is a significant economic argument in Parliament this year. The Minority accuses the government of trying to control public perception of the BoG’s financial health before Parliament can officially review the figures. They claim the GH¢15.6 billion operating loss reported by the Majority is misleading. The opposition believes the true losses are much higher when accounting for other comprehensive income and gold transaction adjustments. This debate touches on the stability of the Ghanaian cedi and the overall economic outlook.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah stated, “Section 58 of Act 612, the Bank of Ghana Act, requires that when the annual audited accounts of the bank are completed, within three months, they should be presented to the Finance Minister, which will cause them to be gazetted, commented upon, and laid before the House.” He added, “We are finished with April. That is the fourth month. Next week is the final week of May. And in the business for the week, in presentation of papers, I don’t see it there.” He directly asked the Majority Leader if the government intended to present the report on time.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga acknowledged the Minority's concerns. He assured Parliament he would consult with the Finance Minister and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana immediately. Ayariga stated, “The Bank of Ghana, thank you for drawing our attention. I will check the timelines, but this afternoon I will draw the attention of the Finance Minister and then the Governor of the Central Bank to make sure that they do not default in terms of the timelines.” He also mentioned previous assurances from the BoG Governor about meeting deadlines. The eventual debate on these accounts is expected to draw substantial national attention given current economic discussions.
The delayed tabling of the BoG's audited accounts could impact investor confidence and international ratings agencies. Markets will closely watch the government's response and the presentation of these crucial financial figures. The public scrutiny of the central bank's performance is a key indicator of the nation's economic management. Failure to adhere to the legal process could lead to questions about transparency and accountability in Ghana’s financial sector.