The appointment of Dr. Kofi Wampah as the First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has been applauded by the 2008 independent presidential candidate Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah. According to him, it is enlightening that people of Dr. Wampah’s caliber, who had been on the quiet side with enormous experience within the financial sector, are being roped in to contribute their quota to national development.

“The onus now lies on Dr. Wampah to prove his worth making room for more professionals and experts who are out there with talents and ideas that will help us as a country to expedite our developmental process”, noted Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah.

Dr. Kofi Wampah, formerly a Director of Research and Statistics for the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) was responsible for overall supervision and coordination of the work programme of the Research and Statistics Department and supervised the planning and implementation of the Macroeonomic Covergence monitoring programme of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ).

During his tenure (over seven years) as Director of Research, he was extensively involved in preparing the five member countries (Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone) for monetary union in the areas of macroeconomic convergence, policy harmonization-monetary policy, statistics, fiscal policy and exchange rate management among others.

Dr. Kofi Wampah worked with the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for 15 years joining the Research Department rising through the ranks of Manager, Deputy Chief Manager, Chief Manager, Assistant Director and Director.

As Head of Research Department at BoG between 1996 and 2001, he was responsible for monitoring performance under various IMF programmes of the country and was also involved in discussions with the IMF leading to agreements on programmes (SAP and ESAP) and Article IV consultations. He worked closely with the IMF Country Representatives as well as IMF officers at the Ghana desk in Washington. Dr. Wampah was extensively involved in the process of monetary integration in the sub-region and was a member of the Technical Committee which prepared the ground work for the establishment of the West African Monetary Zone and the West African Monetary Institute between December, 1999 and January, 2001.

He also worked with the International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC, as a Special Appointee in 1998 where he worked with the Monetary Operations Division of the Monetary and Exchange Affairs Department (May-September 1998). He participated in Technical Assistance mission on Monetary Operations and Banking Soundness to the Gambia and worked in the African Department (October-December, 1998).

Dr. Kofi Wampah held various teaching appointments with McGill University, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, Legon in the areas of economic statistics and mathematics. Dr Wampah obtained a B.A. (Hons) Economics and Statistics degree in 1977 from University of Ghana, Legon and thereafter an M.A. (1983) and Ph.D (1986) degrees in economics with specializations in econometrics and public finance from McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

He attended Konongo-Odumase Secondary School where he completed his GCE ‘A’ Level coursework, Hohoe E.P. Secondary School for his GCE ‘O’ Level, Dodi Papase E.P. Primary and Ve Golokuati E.P. Primary were where he commenced his education from which he proceeded to Middle School at Ve Golokuati L.A. Middle School.

He is married with six children.