The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, says he is ready to appear before Parliament to respond to allegations that the institution incurred losses through its gold trading operations.
Mr Gyamfi challenged Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to facilitate his invitation to Parliament, saying he was prepared to answer questions and demonstrate that claims linking GoldBod to losses under the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme were unfounded.
Speaking at the government’s Accountability Series on Wednesday, August 19, Mr Gyamfi said he was eagerly awaiting an invitation from Parliament to address the allegations.
He questioned why the Minority Leader was holding press conferences on the matter instead of using Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to invite him to answer questions.
“There’s been a call for a parliamentary probe, and I’ve already stated on public record that I’m waiting with bated breath for Afenyo-Markin’s invitation,” he said.
Mr Gyamfi maintained that the Public Accounts Committee had the authority to invite him without the need for a special motion or approval from the Speaker of Parliament.
“I don’t know why he’s delaying and holding press conferences when, as Minority Leader, he can get the Public Accounts Committee to summon me tomorrow or today, and I will appear,” he added.
He disclosed that he had also contacted the new Majority Leader, James Agalga, asking him to facilitate an invitation if Mr Afenyo-Markin failed to do so.
“I have in all humility reached out to the new Majority Leader in Parliament, Honourable James Agalga, and I pleaded with him that even if Afenyo-Markin delays in extending this invitation, he should extend the invitation to me and I’m ready to come tomorrow,” Mr Gyamfi said.
He insisted that he was prepared to account for GoldBod’s operations and defend the institution against the allegations.
“You don’t need any special motion; you don’t need any special order by the Speaker. Just get the Public Accounts Committee to invite us and come and sit down there and come and demonstrate to the whole nation where the Gold Board made losses or how the Gold Board is to blame for losses made by another institution,” he said.
Mr Gyamfi’s comments come amid calls for an investigation into reported financial losses associated with GoldBod.
Former Minister of State in charge of Finance and Atewa East Member of Parliament, Abena Osei-Asare, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to order a thorough investigation into the reported losses.
As Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, Ms Osei-Asare said the reported losses required closer scrutiny to determine how they occurred and whether adequate measures were taken to protect public funds.
The concerns follow reports of a $1.7 billion loss allegedly attributed to GoldBod by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a development Ms Osei-Asare said warranted detailed examination by the government and relevant state institutions.
Mr Gyamfi, however, maintains that he is ready to appear before Parliament and provide answers on the matter.
About the Author
