New Patriotic Party (NPP) communicator Akosua Manu has urged the public not to allow the controversy between Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) Chief Executive Sammy Gyamfi and Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to overshadow the reported $1.7 billion loss under the gold purchasing programme.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Ms Manu said focusing on the personal exchanges between the two politicians would distract from the substantive issue.

If the issue is reduced to a face off between Sammy Gyamfi and Afenyo-Markin “we are being disingenious to the good people of Ghana,” she asserted.

“A loss of $1.7 billion should be the conversation,” she asserted.

She said citizens and the NPP had a legitimate basis to demand answers, arguing that recovering or accounting for such a loss could ultimately have implications for taxpayers.

Ms Manu also criticised the government for rejecting a request for an enquiry into the matter.

She said several NPP figures who have raised questions about GOLDBOD had instead been subjected to personal attacks, including former Information Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase-Ayirebi Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, whom she described as “an established individual with experience in finance and economy”.

She also cited former Deputy Finance Minister Abena Osei Asare, saying she had been described as “reckless, incompetent, useless, and silly”.

According to Ms Manu, the attacks had intensified in the case of Mr Afenyo-Markin, whom Mr Gyamfi has described as an “extortionist”.

“It has established a pattern. Anybody who questions GOLDBOD or Bank of Ghana - so long as GOLDBOD is in the conversation - you're going to face personal attacks and insult,” she said.

She urged critics of the government and GOLDBOD to remain focused on the issues rather than be drawn into the personal exchanges.

Ms Manu also accused Mr Gyamfi of lying and alleged that he was being shielded by the government through the judiciary.

She cited Mr Gyamfi’s previous claims that online payment platform Hubtel was owned by former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and that Ghanaians were enriching him whenever they used the platform to purchase electricity.

She also referred to a defamation suit against Mr Gyamfi by Dr Bawumia’s running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and alleged that Mr Gyamfi timed his appeal in the case to coincide with the governing National Democratic Congress’s return to power.

She said the outcome was that the “defamation [suit] has been squashed”.

Mr Gyamfi has challenged Mr Afenyo-Markin to take him to court if he believes the “extortionist” description is untrue. He has also said he is prepared to defend his claims on television and in court with Mr Afenyo-Markin present.

Mr Afenyo-Markin, speaking on Joy News, said he was exploring his legal options but maintained that the allegations were part of what he considered attempts by the government to distract attention from the substantive issues being raised by the Minority.

For Akosua Manu, proceeding to court would be a futile move.

“If a liar tells you to go to court, it means he knows the judge,” Akosua Manu said.