GoldBod loss claims misleading; audit will expose the lies – Akanyele
NDC communicator Richard Akanyele says reported losses under Ghana’s domestic gold purchase programme should not be attributed to GoldBod without a full audit of the programme.
A member of the Navrongo Central NDC Communication Team, Richard Akanyele, has rejected claims that the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) should be held responsible for reported losses associated with the country’s domestic gold purchase programme.
According to him, the figures being cited by the opposition relate to accumulated losses under the broader domestic gold purchase programme and should not automatically be attributed to GoldBod.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Friday, August 21, Akanyele said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) report being cited in the debate did not specifically state that GoldBod had incurred the losses.
“There’s no indication in the IMF report that suggests that GoldBod should be blamed or GoldBod made some losses.”
He explained that GoldBod only commenced operations in April 2025 and questioned why historical losses accumulated under the domestic gold purchase programme should be attributed entirely to an institution that had not existed throughout the period under review.
Akanyele also referenced previous gold-for-oil and gold-for-reserves programmes implemented under the previous NPP administration, arguing that the financial outcomes of those programmes should be distinguished from figures relating to GoldBod’s operations from 2025.
He further claimed that GoldBod’s audited accounts showed that the institution had recorded a surplus, contrary to assertions that GoldBod itself had incurred the reported losses.
“GoldBod itself did not make any losses and that is on record,” he stated.
Akanyele said the Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, had therefore supported an independent audit to establish the facts surrounding the domestic gold purchase programme.
He said the proposed audit would provide a comprehensive assessment of the programme from its inception in 2021 and help determine how the reported losses should properly be accounted for.
The NDC communicator also accused the NPP of attempting to turn the issue into a political controversy involving Gyamfi rather than focusing on what he described as the substantive issues contained in the IMF and Bank of Ghana reports.
He questioned why the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, would threaten accountability measures against Gyamfi without first using Parliament’s established processes to invite him to answer questions on the matter.
Akanyele further defended GoldBod’s contribution to Ghana’s foreign exchange position, arguing that its operations had helped strengthen the country’s economy and support the stability of the cedi.
“GoldBod has brought in about 17 billion US dollars in just one and a half years,” he declared.
He maintained that the NDC was not seeking to evade responsibility but wanted any accountability to be based on verified facts rather than political claims.
He said an independent audit remained the appropriate avenue for determining the true nature and source of the reported losses and bringing clarity to the controversy surrounding the domestic gold purchase programme.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | Elizabeth Apusaama
