President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is seeking parliamentary advise to appoint Ahmed Munawwar as the Governor of the central bank, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA). The move follows the dismissal of Governor Ali Hashim earlier today.
Munawwar, currently the advisor to Finance Minister Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq, previously served as the Finance Minister under the government of former President Abdulla Yameen. He was appointed to the advisor post by President Dr. Muizzu in December last year.
Governor Ali Hashim was removed form the post following a parliamentary vote on Monday, where 63 members voted in favor of recommending the President to dismiss him, and nine against it.
The motion to remove Hashim was initiated by Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Dhiggaru Ahmed Nazim on behalf of the ruling Peoples’ National Congress (PNC). The complaint against Hashim alleged that he had not fulfilled his duties or achieved the objectives of the MMA Act since President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu took office in November 2023. The complaint emphasized that the central bank needs new leadership to navigate the country out of its current economic difficulties. It also said President Dr. Muizzu had not received practical advise from Hashim to achieve MMA Act’s objectives since he took office in November 2023.
The Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee gave Ali Hashim two opportunities to respond to the dismissal case, but he excused himself from appearing before the committee stating that he was ill.
Ali Hashim was also the Finance Minister from 2008 to 2010 in the government of former President Mohamed Nasheed. Ali Hashim was appointed as the Governor of the MMA on September 8, 2019.
