Former National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has apologised over comments made by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, during a recent exchange with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
Mr Vanderpuye said although Mr Gyamfi was responding to criticisms from the Minority Leader, he would not have chosen the language used during the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, August 19.
Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Thursday, August 20, Mr Vanderpuye stressed the need for public officials to exercise restraint, particularly when addressing issues of national importance.
According to him, statements made by public officials are not directed only at their political opponents but are heard by the wider Ghanaian public.
“I wouldn’t use those words. I wouldn’t want anyone to use that on a platform like that. You are not speaking to only that person; you are speaking to the entire country,” he said.
Mr Vanderpuye subsequently offered an apology on behalf of Mr Gyamfi, noting that the GoldBod CEO had not personally apologised for the remarks.
“I will sit here and apologise on behalf of Sammy Gyamfi, even if he has not done that,” he stated.
The comments by Mr Gyamfi followed a public disagreement with Mr Afenyo-Markin over claims concerning an alleged $1.7 billion loss associated with GoldBod’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP).
Mr Afenyo-Markin has raised concerns about the financial implications of the programme and suggested that Mr Gyamfi could face prosecution over the alleged loss.
Mr Gyamfi, however, has strongly defended GoldBod and the government’s management of Ghana’s gold sector, rejecting the Minority Leader’s criticisms.
The disagreement became more heated during the Government Accountability Series, where Mr Gyamfi described Mr Afenyo-Markin as a “noisemaker” and accused him of having “bastardised and depraved” the office of the Minority Leader.
The remarks attracted criticism from some members of the public and political commentators, who questioned whether such language was appropriate for a public official.
While apologising for Mr Gyamfi’s choice of words, Mr Vanderpuye also criticised Mr Afenyo-Markin’s approach to the matter.
He argued that as Minority Leader, Mr Afenyo-Markin should have used the appropriate parliamentary channels to raise concerns about GoldBod rather than allowing the matter to develop into a heated public exchange.
Mr Vanderpuye said both sides had a responsibility to protect the dignity of their respective offices and promote constructive political engagement.
He maintained that disagreements over public policy and financial accountability were legitimate, but such disagreements should be handled with respect and within the appropriate institutional frameworks.
His comments come amid continued debate over GoldBod’s financial performance and the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, with the government and Minority offering contrasting interpretations of the reported figures and their implications for Ghana’s gold sector.
