Know about Dr Issahaku – the new Bank of Ghana Governor
Who is Dr Abdul-Nashiru Issahaku, former Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, whose appointment by the President to succeed Dr Henry Kofi Wampah was announced Monday March 4, 2015?
Dr Issahaku is the Chairman of the Investment Management Committee of the Bank of Ghana and a member of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee.
Another statement from the Bank of Ghana announcing his appointment several hours after the Communications Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah had announced his appointment by the Presidency, containing his profile, described the new governor as “an International Development Economist with several years of experience in economic policy management and development.”
The statement from the central bank coming hours after the Flagstaff House announcement, raises questions as to whether the central bank staff and officials were aware of the appointment. It also begs the question as to whether another statement from the central bank announcing the appointment was necessary. Curiously, the statement from the Presidency didn’t contain the new Governor’s profile nor photograph, and the one from the Bank itself didn’t contain his photo and was silent about his age.
Some news organisations reporting on the appointment Monday used the wrong photograph depicting the appointee.
Indeed while communications from the Flagstaff House said his appointment came into effect on Monday April 4, 2016, the second statement by the Bank of Ghana said otherwise – Friday April 1, 2016.
Dr Abdul-Nashiru Issahaku is said to have worked with several reputable international and local institutions including the World Bank as a Senior Public Sector Specialist; the African Development Bank as a Principal Governance Expert; the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa as a Development Management Officer; the Canadian International Development Agency as a Socio-Economic Advisor and Project Coordinator; and the National Development Planning Commission, Ghana as a Senior Planning Analyst.
He has also reportedly been involved in the management and supervision of some complex international projects. He was the Task Manager for Gambia’s Economic Management Programme (2004 – 2009) and also spearheaded the Institutional Budget Support Programme for Tanzania (2005 – 2009).
Prior to his new appointment, Dr Issahaku was the second deputy governor and an Executive Board member of the central bank, with oversight responsibility of nine departments including Economics, Statistics, Finance, Legal, Banking Supervision and Financial Stability.
And before his appointment to the central bank in July 2013, he was the Chief Executive Officer of the Export Development and Agriculture Investment Fund (EDAIF).
Dr. Issahaku is also a member of Ghana’s Economic Management Team. He chairs the Finance and Administration (F&A) Committee of the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Company and is also the Commissioner and Chairman of the F&A Committee of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The new Governor holds a Doctorate degree in International Affairs and Development from Clark Atlanta University, an MBA in Finance and Strategic Management from Maharishi University of Management, USA, and a Bachelors in Business Administration from the International Islamic University, Malaysia. He also has a certificate in Public Financial Management from Harvard University Kennedy School.
Dr Issahaku who is from the Royal Zambang family of Kunbungu, started his education in Tamale and attended Tamale Secondary School where he obtained his GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi & Emmanuel Odonkor