‘Shame on you!’ – Fadi Daboussi descends on Abena Osei-Asare over GoldBod saga
New Patriotic Party (NPP) member Fadi Daboussi has launched a strong attack on former Deputy Finance Minister and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare over her comments on the ongoing GoldBod controversy.
Mr Daboussi questioned the former minister’s position on the controversy surrounding the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), particularly allegations concerning losses associated with the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
His comments come as the political debate over GoldBod intensifies, with opposition figures demanding answers over the reported financial losses while the GoldBod management has defended its financial performance.
Daboussi challenges Abena Osei-Asare
Reacting to Ms Osei-Asare’s position on the GoldBod matter, Mr Daboussi accused her of lacking the moral standing to criticise the current administration over the financial performance of GoldBod.
He described her intervention as troubling and questioned her record as a former government official responsible for aspects of Ghana’s public finances.
“Shame on you!” Mr Daboussi said in his criticism of Ms Osei-Asare.
The comments have added another dimension to an increasingly heated political debate over the operations of GoldBod and the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
GoldBod controversy
The controversy centres on reported losses associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, under which the Bank of Ghana purchases gold from local producers and aggregators.
The Minority in Parliament has raised questions about the financial implications of the programme and the role played by GoldBod.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has been particularly vocal in demanding explanations over the reported GH¢1.7 billion loss, arguing that Parliament and the Ghanaian public deserve clarity on how the funds were managed.
The issue has also triggered a war of words between Mr Afenyo-Markin and GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi.
Mr Gyamfi has rejected the suggestion that GoldBod itself incurred the reported loss and has challenged critics to produce evidence from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) showing that GoldBod was responsible.
Bawumia backs Afenyo-Markin
The controversy has also attracted the attention of NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who has urged Mr Afenyo-Markin not to be distracted in his pursuit of answers over the reported GoldBod loss.
Dr Bawumia’s intervention comes amid growing pressure from the Minority for greater scrutiny of the programme and its financial implications.
The development has further elevated the GoldBod controversy within Ghana’s political discourse.
Daboussi’s criticism
Mr Daboussi’s criticism of Ms Osei-Asare appears to be part of a broader internal NPP debate over how the party should respond to the GoldBod controversy.
While the Minority has continued to demand accountability from the government, Mr Daboussi’s comments suggest that some members of the party are also questioning the positions being taken by its parliamentary leadership and former officials.
His criticism of Ms Osei-Asare has therefore generated attention beyond the substantive GoldBod debate.
What is at stake?
At the centre of the controversy is the question of whether the reported financial loss associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme should be attributed to GoldBod, the Bank of Ghana or the structure of the programme itself.
The competing positions have created a sharp political disagreement.
The Minority says the financial figures raise serious questions that require parliamentary scrutiny, while GoldBod has maintained that its own financial results demonstrate that the institution is operating profitably.
The dispute is now likely to continue as Parliament and political actors examine the figures and seek explanations over the programme.
Allegations and political responses
Mr Daboussi’s comments against Ms Osei-Asare should be understood as political criticism and allegations, rather than established findings of wrongdoing.
Ms Osei-Asare’s response to the latest comments will be important in providing the other side of the dispute.
For now, the GoldBod controversy continues to widen, drawing in current and former government officials, opposition leaders and members of the NPP.
And with both sides maintaining their positions, the political battle over Ghana’s gold purchasing programme appears far from over.
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