BY Daniel Bampoe
National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairman hopeful Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has apologised unreservedly to Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi and the rank and file of the party after comments he made during a television discussion triggered a backlash within the governing party.
The former Accra Odododiodio Member of Parliament issued the apology on Thursday, August 20, 2026, saying he had reflected on his own comments and recognised that he had failed to communicate his intended position appropriately.
His intervention follows criticism from sections of the NDC grassroots after he publicly commented on Sammy Gyamfi’s handling of recent political attacks surrounding GoldBod and its operations.
The controversy emerged against the backdrop of a heated political exchange involving GoldBod and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), particularly Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
Sammy Gyamfi, who has been at the centre of the government’s defence of the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme and other GoldBod-related policies, has come under sustained criticism from the opposition over claims concerning the management and financial implications of the programme.
During a Government Accountability Series engagement, Sammy Gyamfi strongly responded to claims attributed to Afenyo-Markin and described the Minority Leader as a “noisemaker”.
It was against that background that Vanderpuye appeared on a television programme and offered his assessment of Sammy Gyamfi’s approach.
While acknowledging Nii Gyamfi’s communication abilities, Vanderpuye reportedly argued that his own political experience would have led him to adopt a more measured tone when addressing such a matter on a national platform.
That comment, however, was interpreted by sections of NDC supporters as criticism of a senior party communicator at a time when the GoldBod CEO was facing intense attacks from the opposition.
The reaction reportedly intensified because Nii Vanderpuye is himself seeking the position of National Chairman of the NDC, making his comments particularly sensitive within the party’s grassroots.
Some party supporters accused him of failing to demonstrate solidarity with Sammy Gyamfi and GoldBod, while others believed his remarks could be interpreted as lending credibility to arguments being advanced by the opposition.
The backlash eventually prompted Nii Vanderpuye to issue a detailed statement explaining his position and apologising to those who felt offended by his remarks.
In the statement dated August 20, Vanderpuye said it was never his intention to undermine Sammy Gyamfi or support the attacks being directed against him and GoldBod.
He insisted that his objective during the television discussion had actually been to defend the work of GoldBod and the efforts of its chief executive.
“Indeed, my intention during the discussion was to defend the work of GoldBod and the efforts of Sammy Gyamfi,” he stated.
However, he admitted that the manner in which he expressed himself created an impression that was different from what he intended.
“Unfortunately, in reacting to the sustained propaganda and attacks surrounding the matter, I expressed myself in a way that created a completely different impression,” he said.
Nii Vanderpuye accepted responsibility for what he described as an error of judgment and communication and offered a direct apology to Sammy Gyamfi.
“For that error of judgment and communication, I am sincerely sorry,” he stated.
Direct Apology To Sammy Gyamfi
Nii Vanderpuye described Gyamfi as a dedicated NDC member who had served the party with courage and commitment and said he deserved the support of party members while carrying out his responsibilities at GoldBod.
He stressed that whatever reservations he might have had about Sammy Gyamfi’s communication style should not have been expressed in a manner capable of being interpreted as validating attacks from political opponents.
“I particularly apologise to Sammy Gyamfi,” Nii Vanderpuye said.
The apology was extended beyond the GoldBod chief executive to the NDC leadership, members and, particularly, the grassroots supporters who were disappointed or offended by his remarks.
Nii Vanderpuye acknowledged that party members expected those occupying leadership positions, as well as those seeking higher positions within the NDC, to demonstrate solidarity, loyalty and sound political judgment, especially when party officials were facing attacks.
Chairmanship Ambition Adds Political Weight
The controversy has also acquired significance because Vanderpuye is positioning himself for the NDC National Chairmanship.
His comments and the subsequent reaction therefore come at a politically sensitive period in which aspirants for key party positions are under scrutiny from delegates and grassroots members.
The reaction to his television appearance illustrates the difficult balance confronting party leaders and aspirants who seek to offer independent assessments of government and party affairs while maintaining solidarity with colleagues facing attacks from political opponents.
Vanderpuye’s subsequent clarification appears intended to draw a line between criticism of an individual’s communication style and opposition to the person or institution he represents.
He maintained that his long political history demonstrated his commitment to the NDC and rejected any suggestion that his remarks reflected a weakening of that loyalty.
In seeking to calm the controversy, Vanderpuye invoked his longstanding association with the governing party.
He said he had spent a significant portion of his political career fighting for the NDC through difficult political and personal circumstances.
“My commitment to this party and its people remains absolute,” he declared.
He further stated that the NDC remained his political home and that his loyalty to the party’s cause had not changed.
“The NDC is my political home, and my loyalty and commitment to its cause remain unwavering,” he added.
The episode has nevertheless exposed the sensitivity within the NDC surrounding public criticism of party officials, particularly those occupying strategic positions in the Mahama administration.
