In a public address on Sunday, August 9th, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin urged Sammy Gyamfi, the Chairman of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer, to demonstrate greater receptiveness to criticism regarding the institution’s operations. Afenyo-Markin emphasized that the opposition’s concerns are centered on GoldBod’s operational practices, not a personal attack on Gyamfi himself.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin stated, ‘NPP, nobody hates you. Abena Osei Asare doesn’t hate you. We want the best for you,’ reflecting a desire for the institution’s prosperity. He further acknowledged recent political disagreements over GoldBod, which have fueled scrutiny of the board’s activities. The GoldBod CEO, Sammy Gyamfi, has vehemently denied allegations linking his bodyguards to gold trading or the alleged loss of state funds, stating that the allegations are false and part of a disinformation campaign.
Speaking on X Spaces, the GoldBod CEO, denied any involvement between his bodyguards and gold trading or the alleged loss of state funds. He asserted that none of his bodyguards is involved in gold trading, and none of his bodyguards has stolen or taken Gold Board money. Mr. Gyamfi also denied that Mr Bonsu, a licensed gold dealer and NPP constituency executive, served as his bodyguard.
According to Mr. Gyamfi, his understanding was that Mr Bonsu was a licensed gold dealer and an executive of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the Manso area of the Ashanti Region. He further questioned the suggestion that Mr Bonsu had worked as part of his security detail, contrasting this with the physical difference between the two men. GoldBod has independently rejected the allegation of a GH¢200 million loss and the claim that Mr Bonsu was a former bodyguard to the CEO.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin cautioned against allowing political allies or media personalities to attack individuals who raise questions about GoldBod, emphasizing that the opposition’s scrutiny should focus on the institution’s activities, not personal attacks. He stated, ‘Some of the people you think are your friends today, that you deploy to attack us merely for questioning certain actions at GoldBod may not be there for you tomorrow.’
Mr. Afenyo-Markin also reminded Mr. Gyamfi of his conduct during the NDC opposition period, highlighting his loud criticism and raising critical issues. He stressed that Mr. Gyamfi’s experience as a prominent figure in opposition should make him more tolerant of criticism now that he occupies a senior public office. He added that the opposition’s scrutiny was directed at GoldBod’s activities, not Mr. Gyamfi personally. He cautioned that these concerns could become problematic in the future, and warned Mr. Gyamfi that dismissing these issues today could become a problem in the future.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin further suggested that individuals who currently defend Mr. Gyamfi in the media may not necessarily remain supportive of him in the future. He added that a media person supporting him today may not be there for him tomorrow. He emphasized the importance of a constructive dialogue and a willingness to address concerns rather than engaging in personal attacks. The Minority Leader urged the GoldBod CEO to consider the issues raised by the opposition and provide answers, rather than responding with attacks. He also reminded Mr. Gyamfi of his past conduct during the NDC opposition, which he described as ‘loud’ and a source of critical attention.
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Source: MyJoyOnline
