Minority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has rejected claims that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus is targeting GoldBod Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sammy Gyamfi because of personal hostility.
Afenyo-Markin said the Minority’s concerns about the operations and financial performance of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) are not motivated by hatred for Sammy Gyamfi. Instead, he explained that the NPP Minority is exercising parliamentary oversight to ensure that the state-owned institution operates transparently and protects the interests of Ghana.
The comments follow accusations by Sammy Gyamfi that the Minority’s criticism of GoldBod and its reported financial losses was driven by hostility towards him and his work.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme on Monday, August 10, Afenyo-Markin urged the GoldBod CEO to view the concerns raised by Parliament as constructive criticism rather than personal attacks.
“Sammy, nobody hates you. I don’t hate you. We want the best for you,” Afenyo-Markin stated, stressing that the Minority’s objective is to promote accountability and good governance at GoldBod.
He cautioned that individuals who currently defend Sammy Gyamfi and attack the Minority over its scrutiny of GoldBod may not always remain supportive of him.
Afenyo-Markin Calls for Transparency at GoldBod
The Effutu MP noted that Sammy Gyamfi was previously a strong critic of successive governments while in opposition and should therefore understand the importance of public scrutiny now that he occupies a key government position.
According to Afenyo-Markin, several of the concerns raised by the NPP Minority are based on information contained in reports from credible institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He maintained that the Minority is not interested in attacking Sammy Gyamfi personally but is focused on what it considers questionable practices or excesses within GoldBod.
“We are not after your person. We are after the excesses in the activities at your institution. So please don’t take it personal. Let’s work together. Let’s understand the issues. When we raise them, take notes,” he said.
NPP Minority Defends GoldBod Scrutiny
Afenyo-Markin also accused some members and supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of responding to political criticism through personal attacks and social media campaigns.
He argued that such tactics could weaken meaningful public debate and prevent important concerns about government institutions from receiving proper attention.
The Minority Leader maintained that parliamentary scrutiny of GoldBod is necessary to promote financial accountability, transparency and responsible management of Ghana’s gold sector.
He called for a more constructive approach to political disagreements, stressing that issues raised by the opposition today could eventually become challenges for the government if they are not properly addressed.
The debate over GoldBod’s financial performance and operations is expected to remain a major issue in Ghana’s economic and political discourse as Parliament continues to examine the institution’s activities.
Source: newsthemegh.com