The Volta Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Makafui Woanyah, has urged President Mahama to dismiss Sammy Gyamfi as the Ghana Gold Board Chief Executive Officer over the company’s reported loss and misconduct.

He pointed out that Mr Gyamfi’s attack and demeaning language directed at the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markins, who was pursuing the public’s interest in the reported loss of $1.7 billion, constitute clear misconduct by a public officer and warrant sanctions.

Mr Woanyah was speaking to the press at the Volta Regional NPP office in Ho.

“A $1.7 billion loss does not belong to one party; it belongs to every Ghanaian across all regions, including your own constituents. If you believe you have nothing to hide, prove it by standing with us and not against us. We demand the removal of Sammy Gyamfi or, at the very least, a public reprimand,” he said.

Mr Woanyah explained that the Minority Leader and his colleagues are entitled to inquire about developments in state-owned institutions and demand clear explanations.

He further clarified that Mr Afenyo-Markin was merely performing his mandated duties to seek accountability and prevent such colossal losses in the future, but was instead met with denigrating words rather than answers or explanations regarding the loss.

He stated that “Sammy Gyamfi stood on a stage platform and hurled insults, instead of providing answers. He was not merely insulting one Member of Parliament but was insulting a son of Siame, a son of Anlo, and a son of the Volta Region. We, as the New Patriotic Party in this region, will not sit in silence when that happens.”

President Mahama's public confidence wavering

Mr Woanyah questioned President Mahama’s conscience and his adherence to a code of conduct issued after he assumed office, which was meant to bind appointees to good behaviour or risk losing their positions.

He added that President Mahama’s failure to discipline Mr Gyamfi “could undermine public confidence in his leadership.

“Think about what that means—that a man appointed by President Mahama stood on a platform built and funded by the state, to insult a son of this region. He did not answer the one question that every Ghanaian wanted answered, ‘where did the 1.7 billion dollars go?’”

“If President Mahama cannot discipline this one appointee, what confidence can the people of the Volta Region have in him? What confidence can any region have?” he asked.

Mr Woanyah asserted that prudent management by the Ghana Gold Board and the Bank of Ghana could have prevented the loss of the $1.7 billion.

He explained that such an amount could have significantly contributed to the country’s social infrastructure development.

“There are schools across this country that are still unfinished, some right here in the Volta Region. That money should have completed them. Hospitals, clinics, water systems, markets, roads, and highways could have been repaired. All it required was prudence, not recklessness at Goldbod and the Bank of Ghana,” he said.

Mr Woanyah announced that NPP members nationwide are fully supportive of the minority’s call for a comprehensive investigation into the reported loss of $1.7 billion.

“Let it be stated clearly: the New Patriotic Party in the Volta Region and across the country backs the minority’s motion. We support full parliamentary investigations into this loss. Ghanaians deserve the full truth under proper scrutiny, with all documents on the table,” he emphasised.