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13.08.2014 Editorial

Ebbing Professional Integrity

By Daily Guide
Ebbing Professional Integrity
13.08.2014 LISTEN

Dr. Henry Kofi Wampah
Professional integrity is under threat. Many professionals who have had to deal directly with politicians at the helm have wittingly and otherwise compromised their positions, buckling under the weight of myriad influences – monetary and others.

Turning themselves into charlatans and remaining at the beck and call of irresponsible politicians in-charge of the ship of state means nothing to them. Their predispositions are inconsistent with the tenets of the professions they belong to, the effects of these on the national interest notwithstanding.

Corporate Ghana under the circumstances, is the loser. Evidences of this fact are verifiable. The ethics which regulate the practice of certain professions no longer hold: learned men of the wigged fraternity have occasionally conducted themselves in contravention of the ethics of their profession, as have bankers.

Whereas evidence of the former popped up during the recent presidential election petition hearing, in the case of the latter – the subject of this commentary – Dr. Henry Wampah's performance as head of the apex bank of the country epitomises unethical conduct by bad professionals in the banking sector.

He has failed in his bid to salvage the disgraced national currency through politically motivated and outlandish policies. Riding on the back of vile propaganda, the performance of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana has fallen below average.

With truth and sincerity slipping through the window, he has lost it. His performance is akin to those of the former Information and Media Relations Minister under the NDC regime, Mahama Ayariga, Kwakye Ofosu, et al, before the merger with the Communications portfolio.

Banking ethics at the apex bank have been turned upside down with truth and professional morality no longer attributes.

Not even the 1992 Constitution's insulation of his office against the shenanigans of uncouth politicians at the helm have instilled the confidence in Wampah to do his job, regardless of whose ox is gored.

We are at a loss as to why a man of his stature would debase the banking profession and kowtow to the dictates of bad politicians whose stewardship has taken the country's fiscal standing to the brink and is forcing the economy to go on its knees.

Having pushed crazy measures to ostensibly ameliorate the bad situation of the economy down the throat of Ghanaians and screaming on rooftops about the success of these, he has made an about-turn—a tacit admission of his failure and incompetence – if we may stretch the query further. Under the testy circumstances the most honourable thing for him to do is unambiguous –  resign.

In an environment where such honourable recourses are alien, it would be outlandish to see Henry Wampah pave the way for others to follow.

It is clear that by such admission he lied between his teeth when he challenged critics of the measures who sneered at them.

It was amazing that at the time he was making positive observations about the effects of the measures, the business community was clearly not amused because their activities were inching towards the brink.

Being in the propaganda mode for a while now, we do not know how Henry Wampah can convince Ghanaians, especially the business community, about how he can change the fate of the Cedi – even after the restoration of the status quo.

The truth is that it would be a Herculean challenge restoring confidence in the devastated Cedi under the directorship of Wampah.

President Mahama might have to consider relocating Henry Wampah to the Information Ministry, sorry Communications Ministry, where he can perform better as a propagandist. Shoring up the pitiable state of the Cedi as it refuses to respond to treatment, is beyond the capabilities of Wampah.

Lying when the treatment being administered the bruised Cedi was not effective and rather aggravated its state, casts a slur on the image and professional competence of the Governor.

 

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