GoldBod should address gold losses instead of trading insults — Fiifi Boafo
Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s spokesperson, Fiifi Boafo, has criticised officials of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) over their response to concerns about reported losses associated with the country’s gold transactions.
Mr Boafo said the reactions from GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi and NDC communicator Eric Adjei had shifted attention away from the substantive issues, with personal attacks and emotional exchanges dominating the discussion.
Speaking on Asempa FM, he said the focus should instead be on explaining the circumstances surrounding the reported losses.
“If you listen to Sammy Gyamfi's press conference and Eric Adjei's [radio] comments, [it proves that] instead of addressing the issues, now emotions are driving the conversation, which should not be the case,” Mr Boafo said.
He cited an IMF report which, according to him, indicated that government incurred losses from gold transactions involving GoldBod.
“It is true government made losses, and it was through gold, and GOLDBOD went to buy it,” he stated.
Mr Boafo argued that GoldBod should provide a clear explanation of the reported losses rather than respond with what he described as insults and personal attacks.
“They've taken the conversation away from what the IMF is saying to calling someone an extortionist, making allegations and comments about people's minds,” he said.
GoldBod Must Clarify Source of Losses
Mr Boafo said GoldBod should establish whether the reported losses originated from its operations or from transactions involving the Bank of Ghana.
“We expect GOLDBOD to come and say the loss is not from them but the Bank of Ghana,” he said.
He also referred to Mr Gyamfi’s previous claims concerning online payment platform Hubtel and Dr Bawumia, saying the former Vice President had responded to the allegations with restraint.
Mr Boafo said the same level of decorum should be expected from GoldBod officials when responding to legitimate questions about public funds.
Bail Comments
The former Vice President’s spokesperson also criticised Mr Gyamfi’s reaction to comments by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin regarding the possibility of demanding bail conditions if the GoldBod CEO were arrested and questioned over the reported losses.
“You called Akufo-Addo and Bawumia criminals, but you are upset over talk about bail terms for you? I want him to learn a lesson here, that the whip used on one child will be used on the other child soon after,” Mr Boafo said.
He argued that the current government should be open to scrutiny, particularly because the NDC previously criticised the former NPP administration over an alleged GH¢400 million loss associated with the Gold-for-Oil programme.
According to him, the NDC’s previous position on accountability makes it necessary for the current administration to provide full explanations regarding any losses associated with Ghana’s gold transactions.
Mr Boafo accused the government of shielding Mr Gyamfi from scrutiny because of his close relationship with the NDC, describing him as a party “darling boy.”
He further called for assurances that similar losses would not occur in the future.
“[We need] the assurance that going forward, we will not experience this sort of loss?” he asked.
Mr Boafo stressed that any intervention involving the Bank of Ghana ultimately concerns taxpayers’ money and therefore citizens have a legitimate right to demand transparency and explanations on how such funds are used.