Revocation of UniCredit’s license unlawful – Court of Appeal rules against BoG

The Court of Appeal has overturned the Bank of Ghana’s revocation of the license of UniCredit Ghana Limited.

The appellate Court describes the Central Bank’s decision as an unlawful exercise of its powers.

The three-member Court, with Justice Gbiel Suurbaare as President, was unanimous in its decision on Thursday to quash the BoG’s revocation of UniCredit’s license.

The other members of the Panel are Justices Merley Afua Wood and Janapare Bartel.

The Central Bank, on Friday, August 16, 2019, revoked the licences of 23 insolvent savings and loans companies and finance houses including uniCredit, pursuant to Section 123 (1) of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930). This provision requires the Bank of Ghana to revoke the licence of a Bank or Specialised Deposit-Taking Institution (SDI) where the Bank of Ghana determines that the institution is insolvent.

However, Hoda Holdings Limited, mother company of UniCredit, in a writ filed on Monday, August 19, 2019, sought an interlocutory injunction against the BoG from interfering with its operations pending arbitration.

Subsequently, in 2020, the High Court (Human Rights Division) presided over by Her Ladyship Gifty Adjei Addo, dismissed a Judicial Review application filed by HODA Holding against BoG following the revocation of the operating license.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, HODA Holdings proceeded to the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court Judgment.

—citinewsroom