New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed confidence in the leadership of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and urged the Minority in Parliament to intensify its efforts to hold the government accountable over reported losses linked to the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
According to Afenyo-Markin, he held a meeting with Dr Bawumia at the NPP flagbearer’s private residence in Accra on Monday morning to discuss party matters and the Minority’s agenda as Parliament reconvenes for an emergency sitting convened by the Speaker.
Afenyo-Markin said the meeting focused, among other issues, on the reported loss of more than $1.7 billion, equivalent to about 1.5% of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), arising from the operations of the GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
He said Dr Bawumia urged the Minority to remain focused on the issue and resist what he described as attempts to divert public attention from the reported financial loss.
“Dr Bawumia expressed his full confidence in my leadership of the Minority. He urged me to remain focused on the loss of over $1.7 billion, equivalent to 1.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), arising from the operations of GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
The Minority Leader said Dr Bawumia also called on the Minority to use all available parliamentary procedures and within the rules of the House to demand accountability from the government.
“He called on the Minority, under my leadership, to do everything within the rules of the House to ensure the Mahama government is held fully accountable to the people of Ghana for this loss,” he added.
Afenyo-Markin said Dr Bawumia commended the Minority for its efforts so far in raising concerns over the matter.
The meeting comes as Parliament prepares to reconvene for an emergency sitting, with the reported losses associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme expected to remain a major issue for the Minority.
Afenyo-Markin assured Dr Bawumia that the Minority would pursue the matter with determination and in the interest of the Ghanaian people.
“I assured him that this is a national task the Minority intends to prosecute to the fullest extent of our ability, with the very best of intentions, and minded always by the interests of the Ghanaian people,” he said.
He added that the reported loss under the watch of GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana remains firmly on the Minority’s parliamentary agenda.
“This colossal loss, under the watch of GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana, is firmly on the Minority’s agenda as Parliament reconvenes today,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
He further assured Ghanaians that the Minority would continue to pursue answers on the matter and demand accountability from the relevant institutions.
“We remain resolute in this commitment, and we will not relent until the Ghanaian people receive the answers they deserve,” he said.
The reported $1.7 billion loss has become a major point of political debate, with the Minority demanding greater scrutiny of the government’s gold purchasing and reserve accumulation policies.
