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Central Bank Chief Denies Information to Media: Journalists

The journalist community in Afghanistan on Tuesday accused Ajmal Ahmadi, the governor of the Central Bank in Afghanistan, of failing to provide information to the media.

Meanwhile, a number of Afghan journalists said that Ahmadi has blocked them from his Twitter account after they tried to seek information about Ahmadi’s daily privileges and salary.

A member of the Access to Information Commission is also one of the critics who was blocked by Ahmadi.

“Accountability is one of the fundamental responsibilities of the government, it does not mean to block the people from access to information, it is not a good approach,” said Hamdullah Arbab, a member of Access to Information Commission.

“Ajmal Ahmadi is a government servant, he receives a salary from the taxes of the Afghan people, he should respond to what the people ask for,” said Afghan journalist Javid Hamim Hamkar.

Afghan journalists who cover economic news in Afghanistan have said that Ahmadi has always been unwilling to provide information at any organization he worked.

“This man (Ahmadi) does not have any respect for freedom of speech in Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Aslam Hejab, a journalist.

“The dismissal of several high level officials, switching off the security cameras at the Central Bank, the reforms which were implemented by Mr. Ahmadi in the area of financial transactions and private banks---he talks about these reforms, but when I tried to get information about them, unfortunately, the information was not provided to us,” said Mohammad Ali Tarhji, a journalist.

“Mr. Ajmal Ahmadi Ahmady has blocked me because I asked him to give out the cctv video of Ghafar Dawi's alleged "uninvited" visit to his office in the Central Bank. Transparent governance,” tweeted Sami Mahdi, Radio Azadi bureau chief.

“Welcome guys to the blocked community of Ajmal Ahmadi. Should we start an association of Ahmadi’s blockades,” tweeted National Security Researcher South Asia Institute of World Politics.

Neither Ahmadi nor his colleagues were prepared to respond to the allegations.

US Dep. Chief of Mission Karen Decker (on Chargé d’Affaires Wilson's account) says: "Afghans should be proud of their journalists, not blocking them," referring to journalists' claims of being blocked on Twitter by Ajmal Ahmady, acting governor of Central Bank.

The controversial dismissals:

In July 20, Ahmadi was referred to the Attorney General's Office (AGO) by a senate commission. The action was taken because of Ahmadi's recent questionable dismissals and appointments at the bank.

Last week, a Kabul-based monitoring organization criticized a delay in the assessment of corruption cases in the state-owned Central Bank, saying the issue needs to be made clear as quickly as possible.

Five officials of the bank, including the deputy governor Wahid Nosher, were removed from their posts all in less than two weeks in May.

Based on Article Seven of Da Afghanistan Bank Law (Central Bank), the bank is led by a group known as the Supreme Council, which has seven members. This includes the governor – who also heads the Supreme Council-- the first deputy, and five other members (including a second deputy).

Article Seven of the law also says that all members of the Supreme Council shall be appointed by the president “with the consent of the parliament.”

Each member of the council can serve a five-year term that is extendable, based on this law.

Article 12 of the law says that the governor, the first deputy governor, and any other member of the Supreme Council, shall be suspended or removed by the president.

Critics have said that the recent issues in the Central Bank will affect people’s trust in the monetary system and that it needs to be solved as quickly as possible.

Central Bank Chief Denies Information to Media: Journalists

Neither Ahmadi nor his colleagues were prepared to respond to the allegations.

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The journalist community in Afghanistan on Tuesday accused Ajmal Ahmadi, the governor of the Central Bank in Afghanistan, of failing to provide information to the media.

Meanwhile, a number of Afghan journalists said that Ahmadi has blocked them from his Twitter account after they tried to seek information about Ahmadi’s daily privileges and salary.

A member of the Access to Information Commission is also one of the critics who was blocked by Ahmadi.

“Accountability is one of the fundamental responsibilities of the government, it does not mean to block the people from access to information, it is not a good approach,” said Hamdullah Arbab, a member of Access to Information Commission.

“Ajmal Ahmadi is a government servant, he receives a salary from the taxes of the Afghan people, he should respond to what the people ask for,” said Afghan journalist Javid Hamim Hamkar.

Afghan journalists who cover economic news in Afghanistan have said that Ahmadi has always been unwilling to provide information at any organization he worked.

“This man (Ahmadi) does not have any respect for freedom of speech in Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Aslam Hejab, a journalist.

“The dismissal of several high level officials, switching off the security cameras at the Central Bank, the reforms which were implemented by Mr. Ahmadi in the area of financial transactions and private banks---he talks about these reforms, but when I tried to get information about them, unfortunately, the information was not provided to us,” said Mohammad Ali Tarhji, a journalist.

“Mr. Ajmal Ahmadi Ahmady has blocked me because I asked him to give out the cctv video of Ghafar Dawi's alleged "uninvited" visit to his office in the Central Bank. Transparent governance,” tweeted Sami Mahdi, Radio Azadi bureau chief.

“Welcome guys to the blocked community of Ajmal Ahmadi. Should we start an association of Ahmadi’s blockades,” tweeted National Security Researcher South Asia Institute of World Politics.

Neither Ahmadi nor his colleagues were prepared to respond to the allegations.

US Dep. Chief of Mission Karen Decker (on Chargé d’Affaires Wilson's account) says: "Afghans should be proud of their journalists, not blocking them," referring to journalists' claims of being blocked on Twitter by Ajmal Ahmady, acting governor of Central Bank.

The controversial dismissals:

In July 20, Ahmadi was referred to the Attorney General's Office (AGO) by a senate commission. The action was taken because of Ahmadi's recent questionable dismissals and appointments at the bank.

Last week, a Kabul-based monitoring organization criticized a delay in the assessment of corruption cases in the state-owned Central Bank, saying the issue needs to be made clear as quickly as possible.

Five officials of the bank, including the deputy governor Wahid Nosher, were removed from their posts all in less than two weeks in May.

Based on Article Seven of Da Afghanistan Bank Law (Central Bank), the bank is led by a group known as the Supreme Council, which has seven members. This includes the governor – who also heads the Supreme Council-- the first deputy, and five other members (including a second deputy).

Article Seven of the law also says that all members of the Supreme Council shall be appointed by the president “with the consent of the parliament.”

Each member of the council can serve a five-year term that is extendable, based on this law.

Article 12 of the law says that the governor, the first deputy governor, and any other member of the Supreme Council, shall be suspended or removed by the president.

Critics have said that the recent issues in the Central Bank will affect people’s trust in the monetary system and that it needs to be solved as quickly as possible.

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