Aspiring National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has apologised to Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) CEO Sammy Gyamfi over comments he made during a television discussion about Gyamfi’s response to Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
In a statement dated August 20, 2026, Vanderpuye said he had reflected on his remarks and accepted that he failed to communicate his position clearly during the discussion.
He said his comments may have given the impression that he was criticising Gyamfi or supporting attacks against the GoldBod chief executive, but insisted that this was not what he intended.
“I wish to sincerely apologise for my comments during my presentation on Citi TV this morning. Having had the opportunity to listen carefully to myself and reflect on the discussion, I acknowledge that I did not communicate my intended position in the manner I should have. I take full responsibility for that,” he said.
Vanderpuye stressed that he had no intention of weakening Gyamfi’s position or providing political ammunition to the opposition against the NDC government and one of its key appointees.
He explained that his main objective during the discussion was to defend GoldBod and the work being done by Sammy Gyamfi.
According to him, however, his attempt to respond to what he described as sustained criticism and propaganda surrounding the issue led him to express himself in a way that created a different impression.
The former Minister of Youth and Sports then offered a direct apology to Gyamfi, describing him as a committed NDC member who had served the party with courage and dedication.
He said Gyamfi deserved the backing of party members as he carried out what he described as an important national responsibility.
Vanderpuye also extended his apology to the leadership, members and grassroots supporters of the NDC who may have felt disappointed or offended by his remarks.
He acknowledged that party members expect those seeking senior positions to demonstrate judgement, loyalty and solidarity, particularly when the party’s institutions and appointees are facing political attacks.
The apology follows comments Vanderpuye made during a television discussion on August 20, where he said he would have approached Gyamfi’s response to Afenyo-Markin differently.
Speaking on Channel One TV, he said people have different communication styles, but argued that he would not have used some of the language employed by the GoldBod CEO.
Vanderpuye described some of Gyamfi’s remarks as overly harsh and urged public officials to exercise greater caution because comments made on television and other public platforms reach audiences far beyond the individuals directly involved in a political disagreement.
He maintained that those speaking publicly must consider the wider consequences of their words and choose their language carefully.
