The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Volta Region has called on President John Dramani Mahama to remove the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, from office over what it describes as disrespectful conduct towards Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
The NPP says Sammy Gyamfi’s alleged conduct raises serious concerns about the standards expected of government appointees and has urged President Mahama to take disciplinary action.
Volta NPP Criticises Sammy Gyamfi
Volta Regional NPP Chairman Makafui Kofi Woanyah made the demand at a press conference in Ho, where he criticised Sammy Gyamfi over what he described as an inappropriate use of a state platform to respond to concerns about the management of Ghana’s gold resources.
According to Woanyah, rather than addressing questions surrounding GoldBod and Ghana’s gold resources, the GoldBod CEO allegedly attacked the Minority Leader.
The NPP regional chairman said the party was particularly concerned about what it considers a failure by President Mahama to take action over the matter.
NPP Calls for Accountability From Government Appointees
Makafui Kofi Woanyah stressed that no government appointee should consider the country or its resources to be personal property.
He argued that public officials have a responsibility to respond appropriately when citizens or political leaders raise questions about the management of state resources.
The Volta NPP chairman maintained that Ghanaians have a constitutional right to demand accountability from public office holders.
He said questions concerning the management of Ghana’s natural resources should be answered with facts and explanations rather than personal attacks against those raising the concerns.
Sammy Gyamfi and Afenyo-Markin Dispute
The latest development adds to the growing political controversy involving Sammy Gyamfi and Afenyo-Markin, particularly over issues surrounding the management and financial performance of GoldBod.
The Minority Leader has been demanding greater accountability and transparency regarding Ghana’s gold trading arrangements, while Sammy Gyamfi has publicly responded to some of the criticisms.
The Volta NPP believes the disagreement should be addressed through proper institutional channels rather than through exchanges that could undermine the dignity of public office.
NPP Cites Code of Conduct for Appointees
The NPP Volta Regional Chairman also accused Sammy Gyamfi of allegedly breaching the government’s Code of Conduct for public appointees.
He argued that if government officials are required to comply with a code of ethics, violations should have consequences.
According to Woanyah, failure to enforce the standards contained in the code could make it ineffective.
He therefore called on President Mahama to demonstrate that government appointees are accountable for their conduct while performing their official duties.
NPP Wants Mahama to Act Against GoldBod CEO
The NPP has urged President Mahama to either remove Sammy Gyamfi from his position as acting GoldBod CEO or publicly reprimand him over the alleged conduct.
Woanyah questioned whether the President was exercising adequate control over his appointees if a government official could allegedly use a state platform to attack a Minority Leader without facing disciplinary action.
The NPP chairman said decisive action would help demonstrate that government officials are subject to the same standards of accountability expected of other public office holders.
Call for Decorum in Ghana Politics
The Volta NPP also appealed to public officials to uphold decorum, professionalism and respect for Ghana’s democratic institutions.
Woanyah cautioned that failure to enforce appropriate standards among public officials could damage public confidence in state institutions.
The NPP maintains that political disagreements and questions about the management of public resources should be handled through constructive debate, transparency and accountability.
The party’s call for action against Sammy Gyamfi is expected to add further pressure to the ongoing political debate surrounding GoldBod, Ghana’s gold resources and the relationship between government officials and Parliament.
Source: newsthemegh.com