‘Effusions In A Palmwine Bar’

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) losses will not go away anytime soon, having evolved into a full-blown political feud with Sammy Gyamfi representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) locking horns with the Minority in Parliament.

While Sammy would naturally attempt to defend his turf under the circumstances, doing so without hurling invectives would be preferable.

For his age, he would have presented himself as a role model for the younger generation in schools, not so however with his track record of disrespecting his parents' contemporaries or even older.

Showing off his unusual state of hubris does not make him attractive but rather repulsive.

Following last Tuesday's Minority press conference, an engagement which has permeated the Ghanaian society with unenviable effects on the integrity of the GoldBod under the direction of Sammy Gyamfi, the subject has become the most trending on the political ambience.

This commentary will avoid the technicalities in the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-endorsed losses but the disgusting contents of the GoldBod CEO's response.

Not used to responding without invectives and innuendos, Sammy Gyamfi has described the reaction of the Minority led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin as 'effusions in a palmwine bar.'

His response, expectedly, was laden with insults unbecoming of a CEO of a public entity like the GoldBod.

He would have been pardoned were the insults to be hurled when he was in the campaign trenches lying and calling for the death of his political opponents.

When public officers lose their cool and embark on such no-holds barred insulting spree, the level of moral deterioration in the country's political scene can be measured easily.

We find it surprising that Sammy would be offended when GoldBod's loss of $1.7 billion in less than a year and half is a subject of public discourse.

Had this happened under a different administration, it can only be imagined the kind of high-pitched noise he would have made in the country.

Ghanaians, especially the Minority in Parliament, have the right to demand accountability from government appointees, which is what they are doing as they deem appropriate.

To even impute hatred from the Minority Leader as he has done is to exhibit childishness. Some who listened to Sammy's responses stopped at a point when the insults and show of hubris peaked.

Having held this office for a while, we expect Sammy to grow and to learn that campaign mode remarks have no place when the serious business of governance is on.

Having one's name associated with insults is a sad testimonial which should be shunned by all means.

To use $1.7 billion to subsidise the exchange rate is an unsustainable venture which is being discussed, and for which we are being insulted. Such insults won't reverse the truth.

It is even surprising that Sammy is not in agreement with the IMF regarding the controversial loss. Perhaps they too should await their portion of the insults when they are ready from Sammy's insults' mint.

Should the Bank of Ghana absorb the loss? A palmwine bar question.

   Comments0