Kofi Tonto, an aide to former Vice President and 2024 NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has defended Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin against criticism that he frequently addresses the media on behalf of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament.

Mr Tonto was responding to NDC Communications Team member Hamza Sayibu Suhuyini during an appearance on Joy News’ AM Show.

Mr Suhuyini had questioned the practice, arguing that press conferences are usually addressed by ranking members.

“First of all, it's a lie,” Mr Tonto said.

He argued that no one outside the NPP had the right to determine who should lead the party’s press engagements.

He said the NDC changed its Majority Leader without consulting the NPP and should, therefore, not interfere in how the opposition party conducts its parliamentary affairs.

“Did you come to consult us? You took your decision. How then do you have the effrontery, disrespect, arrogance which you continue to display? Now you Hamza want to determine who speaks for us in Parliament? Afenyo-Markin will speak today, tomorrow, and the day after. You can go to hell,” he said.

Mr Tonto said Mr Afenyo-Markin was raising “important questions” about the government’s management of Ghana’s gold resources via Gold Board (GOLDBOD) led by Sammy Gyamfi, contrary to what the NDC was portraying.

He cited how Ghana’s gold reserves of 8.7 tonnes in 2017, under the previous NPP administration increased greatly.

“By the time we left, it had gone to 30 tonnes. Was that not an economic value?” he asked.

He accused the NDC of mismanaging the country’s gold resources and criticised its defence of the GoldBod’s performance, which has recently come under great scrutiny due to reported losses. 

“You criticized a policy, you went to the street and said the policy was implemented badly and that when given the chance you'd do it well. And now your argument is that you have scaled up. Who gives a damn, if you've scaled up? The promise was that you'd do it better, there'd no losses. Your promise was that there's no reason you should sell gold and make losses, and now you are telling us that you have scaled up and that is the reason why you've made losses. Disgraceful,” Tonto charged.

He further said the reported GoldBod losses had implications for the Bank of Ghana’s financial position.

“This goes into the Bank of Ghana's books and adds to the negative equity,” he said.