Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s spokesperson, Fiifi Boafo, has criticised the response from Gold Board (GOLDBOD) officials to concerns over reported losses from Ghana’s gold transactions.

Speaking on Asempa FM, Mr Boafo said recent comments by GOLDBOD Chief Executive Sammy Gyamfi and NDC communicator Eric Adjei suggested that emotions were taking over the discussion instead of the substantive issues. Gyamfi has also accused Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin of commenting on the controversial loss with "malice," even though his fellow New Patriotic Party (NPP) member Kojo Oppong Nkrumah had spoken to the issues, with personal attacks.

“If you listen to Sammy Gyamfi's press conference and Eric Adjei's [radio] comments, [it proves that] instead of addressing the issues, now emotions are driving the conversation, which should not be the case,” Fiifi Boafo said.

He pointed to an IMF report which, according to him, established that the government sold gold through the Gold Board and made losses.

“It is true government made losses, and it was through gold, and GOLDBOD went to buy it,” he said.

Mr Boafo said GOLDBOD should have explained its position on the reported losses instead of “turning its response into insults and casting aspersions”.

“They've taken the conversation away from what the IMF is saying to calling someone an extortionist, making allegations and comments about people's minds”.

He recalled what he described as the decorum with which Dr Bawumia responded to claims by Mr Gyamfi that online payment platform Hubtel was associated with him and that people who bought power through the platform were supporting the NPP flagbearer.

“We expect GOLDBOD to come and say the loss is not from them but the Bank of Ghana,” he said.

Mr Boafo also criticised Mr Gyamfi's reaction to Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin's suggestion that if the GOLDBOD CEO were arrested and questioned over the reported loss, his bail conditions could be demanding.

“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,” he said.

He recalled the NDC's criticism of the previous NPP government over a reported GH¢400 million loss under the Gold-for-Oil programme.

According to Mr Boafo, that history meant the current government should be particularly open to scrutiny over losses associated with Ghana's gold transactions.

He accused the government of shielding Mr Gyamfi from scrutiny because of his status as an NDC “darling boy”.

He also demanded an assurance from the government that similar losses would not occur in the future.

“[We need] the assurance that going forward, we will not experience this sort of loss?”

Mr Boafo stressed that interventions by the Bank of Ghana involve taxpayers' money and therefore citizens have the right to demand explanations about how those funds are used.

Fiifi Boafo: GOLDBOD should address gold losses instead of trading insults

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s spokesperson, Fiifi Boafo, has criticised the response from Gold Board (GOLDBOD) officials to concerns over reported losses from Ghana’s gold transactions.

Speaking on Asempa FM, Mr Boafo said recent comments by GOLDBOD Chief Executive Sammy Gyamfi and NDC communicator Eric Adjei suggested that emotions were taking over the discussion instead of the substantive issues.

“If you listen to Sammy Gyamfi's press conference and Eric Adjei's [radio] comments, [it proves that] instead of addressing the issues, now emotions are driving the conversation, which should not be the case,” Fiifi Boafo said.

He pointed to an IMF report which, according to him, established that the government sold gold through the Gold Board and made losses.

“It is true government made losses, and it was through gold, and GOLDBOD went to buy it,” he said.

Mr Boafo said GOLDBOD should have explained its position on the reported losses instead of “turning its response into insults and casting aspersions”.

“They've taken the conversation away from what the IMF is saying to calling someone an extortionist, making allegations and comments about people's minds”.

He recalled what he described as the decorum with which Dr Bawumia responded to claims by Mr Gyamfi that online payment platform Hubtel was associated with him and that people who bought power through the platform were supporting the NPP flagbearer.

“We expect GOLDBOD to come and say the loss is not from them but the Bank of Ghana,” he said.

Mr Boafo also criticised Mr Gyamfi's reaction to Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin's suggestion that if the GOLDBOD CEO were arrested and questioned over the reported loss, his bail conditions could be demanding.

“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,” he said.

He recalled the NDC's criticism of the previous NPP government over a reported GH¢400 million loss under the Gold-for-Oil programme.

According to Mr Boafo, that history meant the current government should be particularly open to scrutiny over losses associated with Ghana's gold transactions.

He accused the government of shielding Mr Gyamfi from scrutiny because of his status as an NDC “darling boy”.

He also demanded an assurance from the government that similar losses would not occur in the future.

“[We need] the assurance that going forward, we will not experience this sort of loss?”

Mr Boafo stressed that interventions by the Bank of Ghana involve taxpayers' money and therefore citizens have the right to demand explanations about how those funds are used.