The Minority in Parliament has challenged Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, to substantiate allegations of extortion made against Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

The Caucus says the allegations will not distract it from its push for a parliamentary inquiry into what it describes as a US$1.7 billion loss associated with the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP).

The Minority maintains that Parliament has several constitutional and procedural mechanisms available to scrutinise the circumstances surrounding the reported loss.

Speaking after a Minority Caucus meeting in Parliament on Monday, August 24, Old Tafo MP and Member of Parliament’s Economy Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, said the Caucus would proceed with its chosen strategy despite calls for the matter to be referred to the Public Accounts Committee.

“Nobody teaches the Minority as to how it should go about its work. The tools that are available to Parliament are well placed within our hands to use any of the tools that we so deem fit to use,” he said.

Mr Assafuah said although the Public Accounts Committee was an available option, the Minority also had the constitutional authority to seek the establishment of an ad hoc committee.

“If somebody wants to use the Public Accounts Committee, the person can go ahead to do so. But can the person also tell us that based on Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and Articles 204, 212, 213, 262, and 263, the Minority is not well placed to come by way of a motion?” he asked.

He said the Caucus had submitted a motion to the Speaker of Parliament seeking consideration within the week.

According to him, the proposed ad hoc committee would provide Parliament with an avenue to examine the circumstances surrounding the reported loss.

“It is an ad hoc motion, an ad hoc committee that is going to help the Minority to be able to unravel the circumstances by which this loss came about,” he said.

“And so that is our strategy. We will not bend the rules or we will not bend our strategy for anybody's convenience.”

Minority defends choice of parliamentary procedure

Mr Assafuah maintained that Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution gives Parliament the power to establish committees to investigate and inquire into matters relating to ministries, departments and agencies.

He also cited several provisions of Parliament’s Standing Orders which, he said, provide a basis for establishing an ad hoc committee and empowering it to invite persons who may assist with an inquiry.

“Our Orders are also well placed — Orders 212, 204, 213, 262 and 263 — [and] allow Parliament to establish an ad hoc committee,” he said.

He added that such a committee could invite individuals with relevant information to appear before it as part of the inquiry.

The Minority’s position comes amid an escalating public dispute between Mr Gyamfi and Mr Afenyo-Markin over the GoldBod and the reported financial losses associated with the DGPP.

The Caucus has accused the GoldBod CEO of attempting to divert attention from questions surrounding the programme and has challenged him to provide evidence to support his allegations against the Minority Leader.

Mr Assafuah urged stakeholders to focus on the substance of the proposed parliamentary inquiry rather than the particular procedure being advocated by different parties.

“Let's get to the substance of the matter,” he said.