GoldBod Rebuts NPP Claims Over Contracts, Says Allegations Based on False Narratives

The Ghana Gold Board has responded to what it describes as shifting allegations by communicators and surrogates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) regarding procurement processes and contracts awarded by the institution.

In a statement signed by its Media Relations Officer, Prince Kwame Minka, the Board said initial claims that it purchased laptops at inflated prices had collapsed after evidence showed the cost was consistent with prevailing market prices.

According to the statement, the laptops, Lenovo ThinkPad T14S devices, were purchased at a unit cost of GH¢21,500, which the Board insists is slightly below the open market price quoted by the supplier.

GoldBod also rejected claims that it awarded an GH¢11 million office renovation contract through sole sourcing to a company linked to Stan Dogbe.

The Board explained that the contract was awarded through restricted tendering, a procurement method approved by the Public Procurement Authority, following the urgent need to renovate the former head office building of the Bank of Ghana located on Thorpe Road in Accra.

According to GoldBod, the renovation became necessary after the institution expanded its workforce following its establishment in 2025, which required relocating from the former office of the defunct Precious Minerals Marketing Company at Diamond House.

The Board further rejected claims that restricted tendering is equivalent to sole sourcing, stating that the two procurement methods are clearly distinct under Ghana’s Public Procurement Act. While sole sourcing involves no competition, restricted tendering allows selected companies to compete by submitting bids.

GoldBod also addressed claims that the winning contractor, Correca Ghana Limited, did not possess a valid Works and Housing certificate during the tender process. It clarified that although the company’s tender letter was dated July 1, 2025, the actual submission occurred on July 2, 2025, the same date its renewed certificate was issued.

On allegations of conflict of interest involving Stan Dogbe, the Board stated that Correca Ghana Limited is not owned by him personally but is partly owned by two companies, Eclaire Ghana Limited and Woezor Holdings Ghana Limited. It added that Mr. Dogbe is not involved in the day to day operations of the companies and had no role in the procurement or evaluation process.

GoldBod stressed that no law or procurement rule was breached in awarding the contract and accused critics of attempting to manufacture a scandal where none exists.

The Board reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability, noting that details of its contracts have been published on its official website for public scrutiny.