[ 2015-03-26 ]

AfDB deflates Bawumia's sanctions claim: Ghana not blacklisted
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has
denied a recent assertion by Ghana's former Deputy
Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
that it has blacklisted the West African country
for non-payment of debts.

"Our attention has been drawn to a press report
that Ghana is under sanctions with the African
Development Bank Group (AfDB)," the Bank said on
its Website adding: "We wish to state that Ghana
is current on all its obligations with the AfDB."

"Accordingly, Ghana is not on the list of
countries under sanctions by the AfDB," the Bank
said.

The Bank clarified that it erroneously put Ghana
on its sanctions list in February this year but
hurriedly effected a correction. "On 18 February
2015, due to an administrative oversight, Ghana
was erroneously included in the list of countries
under sanctions by the AfDB. However, the error
was detected that same day and a corrected list
was immediately issued in replacement," the Bank
said.

Dr Bawumia, who is the Running Mate to the main
opposition New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer Nana
Akufo-Addo said at a lecture Tuesday that the
sanctions meant that signature of new AfDB loan
agreements, disbursement on all AfDB on-going
projects and the granting of new loans have been
suspended until the situation is resolved.

The sanction, he claimed, has been in effect since
January this year.

"It would also interest you to know that Ghana has
recently been sanctioned by the African
Development Bank (AfDB) for non-payment of debt
obligations due.

"In this regard, Ghana regrettably joins an
exclusive list of nations currently under AfDB
sanctions. The other countries are Somalia, Sudan,
Zimbabwe, and Djibouti. Ghana’s arrears on its
AfDB debt obligations only serves to emphasize the
pressure on government cash reserves as well as
the poor debt management.

"You cannot treat external debt obligations in the
same way as you treat your obligations to the
NHIS, DACF, GETFUND or Road Fund" the three-time
running mate said during the lecture at the
Central University College.

Source - Starrfmonline

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