Ghana central bank governor confirms early exit

The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Henry Kofi Wampah, Wednesday confirmed to Xinhua his decision to step down from office four months ahead of his official retiring age in August.

He said the decision had already been communicated to the president of the Republic of Ghana who had also agreed to his decision to leave at the end of March.

News broke on Tuesday that the governor had decided to step down from office at the end of March to pave way for his successor who needs to have a firm grip on the job before the election period sets in.

"Yes, it is true, my term is virtually ended," the governor said.

The governor had told the media earlier during the 59th Monetary Policy Committee press conference on March 21 that his term would end in August but would communicate when leaving office.

Wampah assumed office in 2012 albeit in an acting position after Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, his former boss, was named Vice-President to John Dramani Mahama.

Wampah is a PhD economics holder from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, and was from 1996 - 2001 the Director of the Research Department at the central bank where he spent most of his professional life.

Prior to his appointment as Deputy Governor in April 2009, Wampah was the Director of the Research and Statistics Department of the West African Monetary Institute. Enditem