Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin: Parliament cannot sit this week and be silent on $1.7bn GoldBod/Bank of Ghana loss

Minority Leader Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin has challenged Parliament to probe the reported $1.7 billion loss under the GoldBod and Bank of Ghana's Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

Delivering his welcome remarks during the emergency recall of Parliament today, Monday, August 24, 2026, the Effutu MP said while the House was recalled to consider urgent business, it cannot ignore what he described as a shock to Ghanaians this month.

"This House was recalled. This House has been recalled to consider urgent business. That urgent business is not on its face the matter I am about to raise. But Mr. Speaker, no order paper drawn up before today could have anticipated the shock that met Ghanaians this month," Afenyo-Markin said.

"That the government that they elected to reset the governance of this country has under the watch of Gold Board and Bank of Ghana lost 1.7 billion US dollars. At today's exchange rates that is 22 billion cedis. Gone. From a program that was meant to protect our gold, strengthen our cedi, and support our economy," he stated.

The Minority Leader cited the IMF report dated December 17, 2025, to back his claim.

According to Afenyo-Markin, the IMF at page 3, paragraph 56 stated:

"Losses from the domestic gold purchase program and GoldBod's activities should not be borne by the Central Bank and transparently brought on budget. Further, the BOG should develop a clear and time-bound strategy for scaling down gold purchases."

He insisted that Parliament must not ignore the figure during this week's emergency sitting.

"Mr. Speaker, we hold a firm view that this House cannot convene this week and be silent on that figure. It must become part of our deliberations so that the people of Ghana know that those in charge of implementation of policy must account to the people of Ghana," Afenyo-Markin added.