Counsel to former President Nana Akufo-Addo, Kow Essuman, has alleged that the John Mahama-led NDC government is going through calculated lengths to keep Ghanaians in the dark.
According to Kow Essuman, the Mahama government’s transparency has not only been merely neglected but has actively resisted it.
He cited an RTI request filed by a citizen who is seeking a disclosure of non-performing loans written off by commercial banks, totalling GHS 1.39 billion.
He disclosed that the BoG requested the citizen’s identification, which was duly provided. Then it simply refused to release the information.
He further alleged that the citizen filed an application at the High Court to compel disclosure, which led to the BoG producing a letter, purportedly dated 24 April 2026, refusing the request on grounds that the information is “exempt.” No explanation. No legal basis offered.
Kow Essuman added that this is not an isolated incident; according to him, he has witnessed firsthand this government trying to keep Ghanaians in the dark when it comes to transparency.
In a post shared on X, Kow Essuman wrote, “In January this year, a citizen filed an RTI request with the Bank of Ghana, seeking disclosure of non-performing loans written off by commercial banks, totalling GHS 1.39 billion. The Bank initially asked for the citizen’s identification, which was duly provided. Then it simply refused to release the information.
On 28 April 2026, the citizen did what the Constitution entitles him to do; he filed an application at the High Court to compel disclosure.
Then something interesting happened.
Today, the Bank of Ghana produced a letter, purportedly dated 24 April 2026, refusing the request on grounds that the information is “exempt.” No explanation. No legal basis offered. Nothing.
I say purportedly dated 24 April because the dispatch stamp tells a different story: the letter was posted on 7 May 2026; nine days after the court application was filed. Draw your own conclusions about the timing.
This is not an isolated incident. I have seen, firsthand, this government and its appointees go to deliberate, calculated lengths to keep the public in the dark. Transparency is not merely neglected by this government; it is actively resisted.
GHS 1.39 billion in written-off loans. Public money. Public interest. And a government that would rather litigate than simply answer the question.
That should tell you everything. Accountability is a strange concept to this government”.
Some Ghanaians reacting to Kow Essuamn’s claims stated, “You see conspiracy, I see statutory banking protections doing their job. RTI exemptions exist for a reason. Courts will sort it out”.
A netizen added, “The subject write-off must not be recognised in the financial statements. If recorded, immediate disclosure of the beneficial banks and associated assets is required. There is no regulatory or legal basis for withholding this information. I urge you to appeal the denial”.
One X user added, “Ghana for you. Silence until court action, then suddenly a refusal letter conveniently dated earlier but showing up afterwards?
Come on.
That’s exactly the kind of thing that breeds suspicion and makes people feel process may have been bent to protect certain interests”.
See the post below:
In January this year, a citizen filed an RTI request with the Bank of Ghana, seeking disclosure of non-performing loans written off by commercial banks, totalling GHS 1.39 billion. The Bank initially asked for the citizen’s identification, which was duly provided. Then it simply… pic.twitter.com/zJQ7jSpApz
— Kow Essuman (@kaessuman) May 8, 2026