My GoldBod criticism constructive, not bitterness; IMF says GoldBod is failing – Osahen Afenyo-Markin

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) of failing in its operations, citing losses associated with the domestic gold purchase programme.

He said the Minority’s concerns about GoldBod are based on real issues and not bitterness or personal attacks against the institution or government officials.

“Gold Board is failing. It’s not me who is saying it. It is the IMF that is saying it,” Osahen Afenyo-Markin said this during his appearance on Accra-based Peace FM’s Kokrokoo programme on Monday, August 17.

The Effutu MP said the Minority had consistently raised concerns about the operations and financing of the gold purchase programme, including fees paid to gold aggregators.

According to him, the concerns led to successive reviews of the fees paid to aggregators, from an initial 15 percent to nine percent and later five percent.

He said the changes demonstrated that the concerns raised by the Minority had merit and should not be dismissed as political attacks.

The Minority Leader rejected suggestions that he and his colleagues have been attacking GoldBod because they were unhappy with its performance.

"I don't envy success. I celebrate success. If GoldBod is doing well, I will be one of the few or one of the many who would come and praise GoldBod,” he said.

The Minority Leader further noted that attacks from the governing National Democratic Congress would not prevent the Minority from scrutinising the operations of the institution and raising concerns where necessary.