Alleged GoldBod losses: 'We need facts, not political distractions' – Sammi Awuku
Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, has called for transparency and accountability in the ongoing controversy surrounding reported losses involving the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
The Minority and the Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, have been engaged in a public back-and-forth over reported losses linked to the Domestic Gold Purchasing Programme operated through the institution by the Bank of Ghana.
The GoldBod CEO has accused Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin of embarking on a smear campaign against him over an alleged extortion.
However, Sammi Awuku said the issue should not be reduced to partisan politics, arguing that the reported figures and concerns raised by the Minority require clear answers from the government.
In a social media post on Monday, August 24, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker said the reported losses could not simply be dismissed through political rhetoric.
“On this issue of the GoldBod, the $22 billion losses and the concerns raised by the Minority, I believe we must resist the temptation to reduce what are very serious matters to the usual political back and forth,” he said.
The Akuapem North MP said the Minority had raised questions about the reported losses incurred by GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana in relation to gold trading transactions and operations.
He said the public deserved to know whether the reported losses resulted from independent actions or possible collusion.
According to him, such concerns must be addressed through evidence rather than attempts to divert attention from the substance of the allegations.
He said the figures under discussion had been captured in reports attributed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), making it necessary for the government to provide evidence if the figures or conclusions were inaccurate.
“The right response is not to attack the Minority or turn the matter into a political football, but to provide clear, credible answers,” Mr Awuku said.