GH¢22bn DGPP loss: “This is public money and must be accounted for” – Afenyo-Markin insists

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has insisted that Ghanaians deserve a full account of the financial cost of the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP), arguing that the reported GH¢22 billion loss cannot be overlooked simply because the disagreement centres on which state institution should bear responsibility.

In a rebuttal to Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi, Afenyo-Markin said the debate must move beyond institutional explanations and focus on the public resources involved.

“This is public money, whichever State balance sheet it sits on.”

The Minority Leader’s position comes after Sammy Gyamfi challenged claims that GoldBod was responsible for the US$1.7 billion loss reported under the DGPP in 2025.

Afenyo-Markin argued that even if GoldBod disputes responsibility for the loss, that does not remove the need for the government to explain what happened to the funds and why the programme recorded the reported loss.

He therefore rejected what he described as an attempt to make the controversy solely about GoldBod’s own financial position.

According to him, GoldBod’s reported operational surplus does not answer questions surrounding the wider financial outcome of the DGPP.

He pointed to figures presented by Sammy Gyamfi on fees received by GoldBod under the programme, arguing that these must also be considered when assessing the programme’s overall financial impact.

The Minority Leader further maintained that the reported loss should be treated as a matter of national accountability rather than a political dispute between the Minority and GoldBod.

“The 22 billion Ghana Cedis losses as reported by the IMF Sixth Country report, numbered 26/213 issued in August 2026 amount to a financial loss to the Republic. It must be accounted for!”

Afenyo-Markin’s response follows the Minority’s press conference on Tuesday, August 18, when the Caucus raised concerns over GoldBod’s operations and the financial implications of the DGPP.

Sammy Gyamfi subsequently disputed the Minority’s interpretation of the figures and challenged Afenyo-Markin to show where the IMF had specifically blamed GoldBod for the reported loss.

The Minority Leader, however, maintains that the identity of the institution carrying the loss does not change the fundamental issue-public money was involved, and Ghanaians are entitled to a clear account of the financial outcome.