IERPP criticises gov't for inconsistency after Majority blocks Minority's effort to probe alleged GoldBod losses

The Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy has criticised what it describes as a contradiction in the anti-corruption agenda of the government led by John Dramani Mahama, questioning the rationale behind recent policy decisions.

In a statement, the policy think tank said it finds it both “disturbing” and “ironic” that the government is moving to establish a new anti-corruption body while allegedly shielding the GoldBod from parliamentary scrutiny.

Governance Advisory Council vs GoldBod Inquiry

On Friday, March 27, 2026, Parliament passed the Governance Advisory Council Bill, which seeks to establish an independent body tasked with promoting accountability, combating corruption, and safeguarding human rights. The council is expected to strengthen oversight mechanisms and ensure public officials are held accountable for their actions.

However, on the same day, Parliament’s Majority side voted to reject a motion by the Minority to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate alleged financial losses at GoldBod, as well as broader issues related to the Gold-for-Reserves programme.

According to IERPP, these two developments appear fundamentally inconsistent.

“If the advisory council has accountability as one of its core functions, why then is the government preventing GoldBod from being investigated?” the statement questioned.

Concerns Over Government Commitment to Accountability

The institute argued that the government’s actions send conflicting signals about its commitment to fighting corruption. It warned that establishing anti-corruption institutions without allowing them to operate independently undermines their purpose.

“The signal the government is sending is that the establishment of the Governance Advisory Council is of little use to the fight against corruption. Government’s claims are at loggerheads with the realities on the ground,” the statement said.

IERPP further cautioned that creating new accountability structures while allegedly limiting scrutiny of key institutions risks wasting public resources and weakening public trust.

“The Governance Council becomes superfluous if institutions like GoldBod are shielded from accountability by the same government,” it added.

Key Questions Raised

The think tank posed several questions to the government, urging transparency and accountability:

• Why is GoldBod being protected from scrutiny?
• Why is the government resisting efforts to investigate alleged $214 million losses linked to its trading activities?
• What possible infractions by GoldBod management is the government reluctant to expose?

IERPP warned that using parliamentary majority power to block investigations could undermine democratic oversight and accountability mechanisms.

“These are worrying times if the government would use its huge numbers in Parliament to prevent scrutiny. The President is not walking his talk as far as the fight against corruption is concerned,” the statement concluded.

The development adds to growing debate over governance, transparency, and the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts in Ghana, particularly in relation to high-profile economic programmes such as Gold-for-Reserves.