“I Remain Focused”: Afenyo‑Markin Brushes Off Attacks in GoldBod Row

Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo‑Markin, says personal attacks and allegations directed at him will not distract him from scrutinising the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP) and the role of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) in the transactions.

His comments come amid an intensifying public exchange between the Minority Leader and GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi over the programme’s operations and financial performance.

Mr Afenyo‑Markin has cited an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report which, according to him, indicated that the DGPP recorded losses of about US$1.7 billion in 2025. Mr Gyamfi has rejected the claim, accusing the Minority Leader of waging a smear campaign against GoldBod. He further described Afenyo‑Markin as an “extortionist” and challenged him to pursue legal action if he considered the allegation defamatory.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, August 22, 2026, the Effutu MP said his scrutiny of the programme was part of his constitutional duty to support Parliament’s oversight mandate.

“As Minority Leader in Parliament, my responsibility is to help Parliament discharge its constitutional oversight function. My actions have been guided solely by that responsibility,” he wrote.

He dismissed suggestions that his questions were driven by improper motives or that he had acted inappropriately in the performance of his duties.

“I have neither acted from any improper motive nor conducted myself inappropriately in the performance of my duties,” he said.

Mr Afenyo‑Markin added that public officials who raise legitimate questions often face pushback from those uncomfortable with scrutiny.

“In some cases, they may resort to false allegations, personal attacks and ridicule in an effort to shift attention from the substantive issues and make the person asking the questions the subject of controversy,” he said.

Despite the exchanges, the Minority Leader said he remains committed to examining the issues surrounding the gold‑trading programme.

“I remain focused,” he said.