A senior figure within the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Justice (Rtd) Seth Aduadem Alafa, has urged party members to close ranks around Sammy Gyamfi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), warning that deliberate attempts are being made to distract him from his work.
According to the retired High Court Judge, although the Mahama-led government is steadily delivering on its promise to reset the economy and improve livelihoods, political opponents are actively searching for controversies to derail that progress.
“Some people are desperately looking for scandals to distract this government,” he said. “Unfortunately, Sammy Gyamfi has been targeted, even though he is doing very well for this country.”
Justice Alafa therefore called on NDC cadres at all levels to remain vigilant and protective.
“We must all sit up and protect him so he can continue delivering on his mandate,” he stressed.
He made these remarks during a public lecture at the 44th Anniversary of the 31st December Revolution, held in Sandema in the Builsa area. The lecture, delivered as part of the commemorative activities, was themed: “Consolidating the Reset Agenda: Reflections on the Gains of the 31st December Revolution.”
The event drew a wide cross-section of party faithful, including senior and junior cadres from across the region. Among the dignitaries present were James Agalga, Member of Parliament for Builsa North; Anne Musah, District Chief Executive for Builsa South; as well as regional and constituency executives of the party.
Justice Alafa’s call follows sustained criticism from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament, which has questioned the operations of GoldBod in relation to a reported US$214 million loss under the Gold-for-Reserves programme.
He described the Minority’s posture as an attempt to intimidate and divert the attention of the GoldBod CEO.
“That is what we do not want,” he said. “If they are coming from that angle, then we must also rise and protect him.”
Beyond the immediate political debate, the retired judge used the occasion to acknowledge the sacrifices of early party builders in the Builsa area, commending pioneers such as Ankisiba Alafisa, the first chairman in the area; Akinkang Anyanga, Daniel Awonwie Syme, and Major Regent Achaab, among others.
He also offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the souls of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and Mrs. Rawlings, urging party members not to allow their sacrifices and vision to be rendered meaningless.
Other speakers reinforced the revolutionary ideals underpinning the NDC.
Senior Cadre Anthony Ayende Akanbontoga challenged modern-day cadres to adapt to contemporary politics without losing the ideological soul of the party.
“Today, we need democratic cadres who can live with others, work with their neighbours, and advance the NDC’s core philosophy of probity and accountability,” he said.
For his part, Daniel Adoliba Akologo, Upper East Regional Chairman of the United Cadres Front (UCF), traced the roots of the 31st December Revolution to the principles of probity, accountability, freedom, and justice.
“These were not abstract ideas,” he noted. “They were the moral foundation of a movement determined to confront corruption, mismanagement, and social injustice.”
He recalled that 44 years ago, under the leadership of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, ordinary Ghanaians chose to reclaim power and decision-making from entrenched systems that had failed them.
“The revolution was about restoring power to the people — the farmers, workers, soldiers, and guardians of our nation,” Akologo said, adding that many paid the ultimate price to defend those ideals.
“The flame we light and the wreaths we lay are acts of reverence to those sacrifices,” he concluded.
