BY: Daniel Orlando | VoltaOnline

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Volta Region has waded into the controversy surrounding alleged $1.7 billion losses associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, throwing its weight behind the Minority’s call for a parliamentary probe while also demanding the removal of the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi.

At a press conference held in Ho today, Tuesday, September 1, 2026, Regional Chairman Makafui Kofi Woanyah said Ghanaians deserved to know what happened to the missing funds and urged Parliament to conduct a comprehensive investigation with all relevant documents made available for scrutiny. He stressed that the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and his colleagues were within their rights to question the management of the country’s gold resources, describing such oversight as part of Parliament’s duty to protect the public interest.

Mr Woanyah insisted the matter should not be treated as partisan, noting that the resources involved belonged to the people of Ghana. He challenged the Majority to support the probe if indeed the government had nothing to hide, lamenting that the alleged losses could have been used to complete schools, improve health facilities, and fix roads.

Linking the controversy to the illegal mining crisis, he warned that Ghana faced a “double whammy” of losing its natural wealth while also enduring financial concerns over gold purchased from small-scale miners under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme. He cautioned that polluted rivers and streams posed grave threats to agriculture and livelihoods, with tributaries feeding the Volta Lake at risk if galamsey was not curbed. He cited reports of deaths in abandoned pits in the Ashanti Region, including children, as evidence of the human toll of illegal mining.

Turning to the conduct of the GoldBod Chief Executive, Mr Woanyah accused Sammy Gyamfi of disrespecting the Minority Leader by allegedly using a state platform to attack him instead of addressing legitimate concerns. He declared that no presidential appointee owned Ghana or had the right to treat citizens as servants simply because they demanded accountability. “Ghanaians have the right to ask questions, and when questions are raised about the management of our resources, the appropriate response is to provide answers, not to attack the person asking the questions,” he said.

He argued that Mr Gyamfi’s actions breached the government’s Code of Conduct for appointees, insisting that such misconduct must attract sanctions. “Breaching that Code of Ethics must have consequences. Otherwise, it is not a code at all. It is decoration,” he stated.

The NPP chairman therefore called on President John Dramani Mahama to either remove Mr Gyamfi from office or publicly reprimand him, warning that failure to act would raise doubts about whether the President was firmly in control of his appointees. He stressed that public office was a trust that demanded humility, responsibility and respect, cautioning that failure to enforce standards could erode public confidence in state institutions.

Mr Woanyah concluded that the NPP in the Volta Region would continue to support the Minority’s demand for accountability in the management of national resources, insisting that decisive action was needed to preserve confidence in governance. “The President must show that there is accountability in his government and that no appointee is above the law. Ghana belongs to all of us, and public office must always be exercised with humility, responsibility and respect,” he said.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

BY: Daniel Orlando | VoltaOnline

Mr. Makafui Kofi Woanyah has retained the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Volta Regional Chairmanship after defeating his long-standing challenger, Joseph Homenya, in the party’s regional executive elections.

He polled 169 votes to secure his third term against Mr. Homenya’s 148 to win by a margin of 21 votes in the closely contested race.

The victory gives Makafui Woanyah another triumph over contender, who has challenged him for the regional chairmanship on two previous occasions. The latest contest therefore marked their third head-to-head battle for the position.

The election was keenly contested, with party members divided between retaining the existing leadership and bringing in a new team to reposition the party in the Volta Region.

Supporters of the incumbent argued that his experience and contribution to the party’s organisational development and electoral fortunes justified his retention. Those advocating a change in leadership, however, called for a fresh approach to unite the party, rebuild confidence among members and broaden its support base in the region.

In the other executive contests, Kenneth Kodzo Ayim was elected First Vice Chairman with 159 votes. He defeated Steve Delanyo Klu, who polled 144 votes, while Joseph Kwaku Wilberforce obtained 14 votes.

Parlous Quarshie won the Second Vice Chairman position with 150 votes, followed by Divine Richard Bosson with 94 votes and David Azim with 74 votes.

The Secretary’s position was one of the closest contests, with Shabanton Kwesi Dutsrogbe narrowly defeating Samuel Attahchie by a single vote. Dutsrogbe polled 156 votes against Attahchie’s 155.

Titus Attamiah was elected Deputy Secretary with 128 votes, beating Anthony Akpah, who obtained 121 votes, and Bright Agboworda, who polled 79.

For the Woman Organizer position, Lebene Cate Gbeti emerged victorious with 162 votes. Agyagbo Rejoice and Patricia Etornam polled 82 and 73 votes respectively.

Klutse Christo Wisdom won the Organizer position with 103 votes. Wotordzor Godson obtained 90 votes, Emmanuel Quashie 89 and Samuel Haligah 36.

Perry Kwashie was elected Communication Officer after securing 167 votes. He defeated Zain-ul-Abideem Ballah Sulleyman and Enoch Amegbleto, who polled 87 and 68 votes respectively.

Emmanuel Senyo Amekplenu secured a decisive victory in the Youth Organizer contest with 228 votes. Philip Bokorgah obtained 70 votes, while Destiny Prince Kudagje polled 19.

Oxford Kosi Agboli was elected Treasurer with 193 votes, defeating Gakpo Wisdom, who secured 125 votes.

In the Nasara Coordinator contest, Abdulai Suala emerged victorious with 188 votes against Adebayor Mudashiru’s 158 votes.

The newly elected regional executive is expected to focus on strengthening the party’s grassroots structures, promoting internal cohesion and rebuilding the NPP’s support base in the Volta Region as it prepares for future electoral contests.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com