'I wasn't directly attacking anybody' - Afenyo-Markin on 'scary' GoldBod bail comment

Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has clarified his recent warning that officials of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) could face “scary” bail conditions in the future.

He said the comment was not directed at any particular individual or meant to suggest that GoldBod officials had committed a crime.

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Speaking on Good Evening Ghana on August 20, 2026, Afenyo-Markin explained that he was drawing attention to the treatment of some former government officials who are currently facing investigations over alleged financial losses to the state.

“You see, I said it on a lighter note, but I also mean it. Let me explain again. We are dealing with losses. Once the state incurs a loss in implementing a policy, it is a financial loss to the state and somebody would have to be responsible for decisions taken there too,” he said.

He said his reference to the GH¢22 billion figure was meant to caution current government officials that decisions taken in office could be reviewed when there is a change in government.

“Now, I wasn’t directly attacking anybody, all right? I was rather stating the fact that, look, today, you in NDC, a lot of my colleagues are under investigation. A lot of former appointees are under investigation,” he said.

Afenyo-Markin noted that some former officials have been questioned by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over decisions that allegedly resulted in financial losses, with some being given substantial bail conditions.

“It’s not a crime they’ve committed, but the state is investigating certain activities leading to losses. They go to EOCO, and then they are made to post a very onerous bail. Some of them, they say, bring 50 million, bring property worth 100 million, and they sleep in EOCO for days,” he said.

He said the same approach could potentially affect officials of the current administration if future investigations establish that decisions taken under their watch resulted in significant losses.

“I was only drawing the attention that, colleagues, you are in government. Being in government, you will make mistakes. It’s natural. You are human. In governance, there is no perfection. However hard you try, you make some mistakes,” he said.

Afenyo-Markin stressed that officials can take decisions in good faith but still face questions if those decisions later result in losses to the state.

“There will be some decisions you may mean well, but in the end, something may go bad. So, think about tomorrow, so that if tomorrow somebody picks something and says, ‘hey, 22 billion’, and the state is asking you questions, then they say, ‘okay, yesterday, you demanded bail of a certain magnitude, so you should also go and bring 22 billion’,” he added.

He again stressed that his comment should not be taken as an allegation of wrongdoing against GoldBod officials.

“I was just saying it on a lighter note, but not to specifically say somebody has committed a crime,” he said.

The Minority Leader also said he would not single out any person until Parliament has examined the issues surrounding the alleged losses.

“I would be fair. We are demanding answers. Until Parliament peruses and comes to a conclusion, it would be unfair for me to call somebody out and say ABC. I must be fair. I am demanding fairness from government,” he said.

Afenyo-Markin first made the “scary” bail comment at a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

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At the time, he linked the warning to the Minority’s claim that GoldBod had recorded GH¢22 billion in losses in one year.

“If that is the case, then the bail for Goldbod will be scary because the GH¢22 billion losses recorded in just one year is simply shocking,” he said.

MAG/VPO

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