The founder of UP tradition Dr Razak Kojo Poku has defended Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams’ recent prayer for the success of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), arguing that the prayer should not be interpreted through a partisan political lens.

In a post, Dr Poku said the Archbishop’s call for divine intervention against powerful external forces allegedly involved in gold smuggling and illegal trading should not be construed as an attempt to shield GoldBod’s Chief Executive Officer and management from public scrutiny.

He questioned why prayers for the success of a national institution and the protection of Ghana’s gold resources would be interpreted as political support for its leadership.

“How can the Archbishop’s prayers be interpreted with a partisan mindset?” Dr Poku asked.

He further challenged critics to identify any statement by the Archbishop suggesting that GoldBod should not be subjected to scrutiny over the reported $1.7 billion loss.

“Did the Archbishop say no one should scrutinize the supposed $1.7 billion loss?” he questioned.

According to Dr Poku, supporting GoldBod’s efforts does not mean endorsing wrongdoing or preventing investigations into the institution’s operations.

He also raised concerns about the smuggling and illegal trading of gold, questioning whether Ghanaians should be comfortable with activities that could deprive the country of valuable revenue.

Dr Poku maintained that the substance of the Archbishop’s prayer was directed at combating gold smuggling and illegal trading allegedly carried out by powerful networks or “mafia cartels” to the detriment of Ghana’s economy.

He therefore argued that political differences should not be allowed to distort the meaning of a prayer aimed at protecting Ghana’s gold industry and strengthening the national economy.

His comments come amid ongoing public discussions about GoldBod, its financial operations and calls for greater transparency and accountability in the management of Ghana’s gold resources.

Dr Poku’s position is that praying for the success of GoldBod and demanding accountability from its officials are not mutually exclusive, insisting that Ghana can support efforts to protect its gold resources while continuing to scrutinise the institution’s finances and operations.