Sue Afenyo-Markin over $1.7bn GoldBod False claim – Mantse Ayitey

Political communicator Mantse Ayitey has called on the Bank of Ghana (BoG), GoldBod and the Presidency to consider taking legal action against Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin over his claim that GoldBod has incurred losses amounting to $1.7 billion.

According to Mr Ayitey, the $1.7 billion figure cited by the Minority Leader has been attributed to GoldBod based on a Bank of Ghana report, but a careful reading of the report, he argues, does not support such an attribution.

In a Facebook post, Mantse Ayitey said the issue should go beyond political debate and challenged the relevant state institutions to compel Mr Afenyo-Markin to substantiate the source and basis of the figure.

“After I read the report, I can confidently say that the losses captured in Bank of Ghana's report were not attributed to GoldBod,” he stated.

Mr Ayitey also referenced Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), arguing that the law provides for an offence where a person publishes or reproduces a statement, rumour or report that is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb the public peace, while knowing or having reason to believe that it is false.

He said the provision should be tested in relation to the Minority Leader's claim if authorities establish that the information circulated was false and met the legal requirements of the provision.

“The CEO of GoldBod, Bank of Ghana and the Presidency should push the Minority Leader to the court for him to prove to the people of Ghana how he came about with that amount on GoldBod,” he said.

'Law must apply equally'

Mantse Ayitey further argued that political office holders should not be treated differently from ordinary citizens when allegations of criminal wrongdoing arise.

“A lot of our young men are in court facing misdemeanour charges, and Hon. Afenyo-Markin is not more human than them,” he stated.

He consequently challenged the authorities to use the matter as an opportunity to test the relevant provisions of Ghana's criminal law.

“Can we test the law on the lawmaker to prove a point?” he asked.

The controversy follows claims and counterclaims over the financial performance of GoldBod and the interpretation of figures contained in Bank of Ghana's financial reports.

While Mr Afenyo-Markin has cited the $1.7 billion figure in his criticism of the government's management of GoldBod, Mantse Ayitey insists that the figure has been wrongly attributed to the institution.

The matter has consequently opened another front in the ongoing political debate over GoldBod's financial position, with the two sides offering different interpretations of the figures contained in official financial documents.

Mantse Ayitey's latest comments are therefore calling for the matter to be settled through the appropriate legal and institutional channels, rather than solely through political exchanges.