A fresh wave of controversy has erupted over Ghana’s gold transactions, with Fiifi Boafo, spokesperson for former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, taking aim at the Gold Board (GOLDBOD) for its recent handling of public concerns about reported losses.
During an interview on Asempa FM, Mr. Boafo criticized the tone and substance of recent statements from GOLDBOD Chief Executive Sammy Gyamfi and NDC communicator Eric Adjei. According to Boafo, instead of providing clarity on the reported $1.7 billion loss, GOLDBOD’s response had become overly emotional and focused on personal attacks, rather than the facts. “If you listen to Sammy Gyamfi’s press conference and Eric Adjei’s comments, it proves that instead of addressing the issues, now emotions are driving the conversation, which should not be the case,” he observed.
Boafo referenced an IMF report which, in his view, confirmed that the government incurred losses through gold sales managed by GOLDBOD. “It is true government made losses, and it was through gold, and GOLDBOD went to buy it,” he asserted. He argued that GOLDBOD should have responded by explaining its role in the losses instead of “turning its response into insults and casting aspersions.”
The spokesperson drew a contrast with Dr. Bawumia’s measured response to previous allegations linking him to the Hubtel online payment platform, suggesting that GOLDBOD’s leadership should similarly maintain decorum. He added, “We expect GOLDBOD to come and say the loss is not from them but the Bank of Ghana.”
Boafo also criticized Sammy Gyamfi’s reaction to Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s remarks about possible bail conditions if the GOLDBOD CEO were to be arrested over the reported loss. “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,” Boafo commented pointedly.
Recalling the earlier uproar over a GH¢400 million loss under the Gold-for-Oil programme, Boafo said the current government should be especially open to scrutiny. He accused the government of shielding GOLDBOD’s CEO due to his status as an NDC “darling boy” and demanded assurances that such losses would not recur.
“We need the assurance that going forward, we will not experience this sort of loss,” Boafo insisted, emphasizing that interventions by the Bank of Ghana involve taxpayers’ money. He concluded that Ghanaians deserve full transparency and accountability regarding how public funds are being managed in the gold sector.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com