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Sammy Gyamfi debunks Afenyo-Markin’s GoldBod loss claims
GoldBod Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, has defended the performance of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) following criticism of its operations and management.
Speaking at tthe Government Accountability Series today at the Jubilee House, he said, no where is GoldBod accused for Bank of Ghana’s losses.
He therefore challenged the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin to point to where IMF attributed losses incurred by Bank of Ghana to GoldBod.
“I challenge Afenyo-Markin to point to any page, paragraph, sentence, phrase or punctuation mark in the said referenced report that the IMF accused the GoldBod of having caused the losses reported to have been incurred by the Bank of Ghana,” Sammy Gyamfi strongly stated.
He highlighted the achievements of the board, particularly its role in gold purchases, local refining and efforts to increase value addition in Ghana’s gold industry.
Mr Gyamfi said GoldBod had purchased and refined more than nine metric tonnes of gold in Ghana this year, describing the development as a major change in the country’s approach to gold value addition.
He contrasted the current situation with the previous administration, claiming that during that period, no gold produced in Ghana was refined locally.
“Not a gram of gold produced in Ghana was refined in Ghana. Today, over nine metric tonnes, just this year, of gold we have bought, refined in Ghana. We are changing the value addition story,” he said.
Mr Gyamfi defended the board against criticisms from the Minority that it had made losses, describing some of the comments as reckless and lacking proper research.
He argued that the current Minority leadership should be measured against the standards set by former occupants of the position, including J.H. Mensah, Papa Owusu-Ankomah and Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
According to him, the former Minority leaders commanded respect in Parliament because of the depth of their contributions and their ability to engage issues with substance.
Mr Gyamfi referenced Ghana’s gold exports under the previous administration, claiming that about 170 tonnes of gold were exported through formal channels and generated more than $17 billion in one and a half years.
He questioned why those responsible for institutions that recorded significant losses during their tenure were criticising GoldBod’s current operations.
He further dismissed suggestions that he was intimidated by political attacks, noting that politics was a “contact sport” and those involved should be prepared to face criticism.
Mr Gyamfi maintained that he was working in the interest of Ghana and expressed confidence that the board’s record would ultimately speak for itself.
“We are serving Ghana in good conscience, and our record and posterity will speak for us,” he said.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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