Suame MP criticises government over gold programme

Member of Parliament for Suame, John Darko, has criticised the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, arguing that it has not brought meaningful benefits to ordinary Ghanaians. Speaking on KeyPoints hosted by Alfred Ocansey, Mr. Darko questioned the rising costs associated with the initiative and warned against celebrating what he described as growing debt. “We are here celebrating debt as a country. That is what we are doing,” he said on May 2. He challenged claims that the programme has contributed to gains such as the appreciation of the cedi and lower interest rates. “You are telling us the cedi has appreciated, interest rates are down, and so we should celebrate. But at what cost?” he asked. Mr. Darko also criticised what he described as the practice of selling gold at a loss. “Nobody sells gold at a loss. This is the only government doing that and expecting applause,” he stated. The MP further raised concerns about Ghana’s fiscal position, pointing to what he called increasing negative equity at the central bank. He argued that beyond technical explanations, policies should be judged by their impact on citizens’ daily lives. “We need to go to the people and ask: have their lives improved?” he said, adding that many Ghanaians are still struggling with high living costs and unemployment. According to him, key sectors such as healthcare continue to face shortages of essential supplies, affecting service delivery. “When people go to the hospital, they want to see medicines and consumables available, not explanations about policies,” he noted. He also questioned the relevance of macroeconomic indicators if they do not translate into real benefits. “You put figures on the screen, but how has that improved my life? Fuel prices are up, electricity costs are rising. What is the real impact?” he asked. Mr. Darko concluded by calling for policies that deliver direct and practical improvements in the lives of Ghanaians rather than relying on data-driven justifications.