Nii Lante Vanderpuye, a former Member of Parliament and an aspirant for the National Chairmanship of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has apologised to GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi and members of the party over comments he made during a television discussion on August 20, 2026.
Vanderpuye said he had reflected on his remarks and accepted responsibility for failing to communicate his intended position clearly. He stressed that he did not intend to undermine Gyamfi or support attacks against him and the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
The controversy followed Vanderpuye’s appearance on Channel One TV’sBreakfast Daily, where he commented on Gyamfi’s response to Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin in the ongoing debate over GoldBod and reported losses linked to the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP).
Vanderpuye had criticised the tone used by Gyamfi in responding to Afenyo-Markin, saying he would have handled the exchange differently, particularly given Gyamfi’s position as the head of a public institution and the wide audience watching the discussion.
His comments drew criticism from sections of the NDC, with some interpreting them as a failure to support Gyamfi while the GoldBod CEO was facing attacks from the opposition.
Vanderpuye has now sought to clarify that interpretation.
In a statement dated August 20, Vanderpuye said his objective during the television discussion was actually to defend the work of GoldBod and Gyamfi.
He acknowledged, however, that the manner in which he expressed his concerns created an impression that was different from what he intended.
He said he took “full responsibility” for the communication error and apologised for it.
Vanderpuye also made a direct apology to Gyamfi, describing him as a committed NDC member who has served the party and deserves its support while carrying out his responsibilities at GoldBod.
He said any reservations he had about Gyamfi’s communication should not have been expressed in a way that could be interpreted as strengthening the position of the NDC’s political opponents.
Beyond his apology to Gyamfi, Vanderpuye also addressed NDC members who felt disappointed or hurt by his comments.
He said party members expected leaders and those seeking higher responsibilities within the NDC to demonstrate solidarity and sound judgement, especially when the party or its appointees were facing political attacks.
He reaffirmed his allegiance to the NDC, saying the party remained his political home and that his commitment to its cause had not changed.
The statement comes as Vanderpuye seeks the NDC National Chairmanship, making his appeal to party leadership and grassroots particularly significant in the context of internal party politics.
Vanderpuye’s apology does not resolve the underlying disagreement over GoldBod’s finances.
The Minority continues to demand accountability over the reported DGPP losses, while GoldBod maintains that the figures have been misrepresented and that its own financial records do not support the claims being made against the institution.
For Vanderpuye, however, the immediate issue is one of political solidarity and communication. His latest statement makes clear that his criticism of Gyamfi’s approach was not intended as an endorsement of the opposition’s position.
