Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim has accused the Minority Caucus in Parliament of using criticism of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) as a means of settling what she described as a personal score with its Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi.

She said the Minority had failed to properly frame its concerns around value for money and the economic implications of the reported US$1.7 billion cost associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP).

According to her, the decision to centre the criticism on Sammy Gyamfi had exposed what she described as the political motives behind the Minority’s campaign.

Speaking on Accra-based Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme on Thursday, August 27, Ms Muslim said the Minority’s approach had prevented a meaningful discussion on the actual issues surrounding the DGPP.

“This is not about fighting for the interest of Ghana. This is an agenda to pay back an individual they have confessed publicly, all of them, from their minority leader to their spokesperson,” she said.

She said the opposition could have focused on how the reported costs identified by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could be reduced in future rather than labelling the entire amount as a financial loss.

The Presidential Spokesperson acknowledged that the GoldBod CEO is not perfect but described him as a strong communicator who, like other political figures, could have difficult moments.

She said this did not prevent Sammy Gyamfi from being subjected to legitimate questions about accountability, particularly because he had consistently demanded accountability from others.

However, she argued that personal grievances had affected the Minority’s objectivity in its criticism of the GoldBod CEO.

“That personal vendetta has clouded all objectivity on their side,” Shamima stated.