Nii Lante Vanderpuye, a National Chairman aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has apologised to GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi over comments he made during a Channel One TV discussion.
On Channel One TV on Thursday, August 20, Nii Lante Vanderpuye said Sammy Gyamfi was a good communicator but lacked the level of political communication experience he had acquired over the years.
Vanderpuye said he would have communicated differently and adopted a different tone, specifically because the exchange was taking place on a public platform and was being watched by Ghanaians.
The NDC man later came under heavy criticism from some members of the NDC after suggesting that he would have used a different tone in responding to Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
However, in a statement, Vanderpuye apologised and clarified that his comments were not intended to undermine Sammy Gyamfi or support attacks against him and GoldBod.
In a press statement dated August 20, 2026, Nii Lante Vanderpuye stated, “ 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.
Let me state clearly and without ambiguity that it was never my intention to undermine or condemn our comrade, Sammy Gyamfi, or to lend support to the attacks being directed at him and the GoldBod by the opposition. My record, my convictions and my commitment to the NDC would never permit me to knowingly strengthen the hands of our political opponents against one of our own.
Indeed, my intention during the discussion was to defend the work of GoldBod and the efforts of Sammy Gyamfi. Unfortunately, in reacting to the sustained propaganda and attacks surrounding the matter, I expressed myself in a way that created a completely different impression. For that error of judgement and communication, I am sincerely sorry.
I particularly apologise to Sammy Gyamfi. He is a dedicated member of our party who has served the NDC with courage and commitment over the years, and he deserves the support of all of us as he carries out one of the most important national responsibility entrusted to him. Whatever observations I may have had should never have been expressed in a manner capable of being interpreted as validating the attacks of our political opponents against him.
I also apologise to the leadership, members and, particularly, the grassroots of our great party who were disappointed or hurt by my comments. I understand their concerns. At a time when our comrades and the institutions they lead are subjected to politically motivated attacks, members rightly expect those of us who have been entrusted with leadership and those aspiring to greater responsibility within the party to demonstrate solidarity, sound judgement and loyalty to our collective cause.
I have spent a significant part of my political life standing and fighting for the NDC, including through extremely difficult personal and political circumstances. My commitment to this party and its people remains absolute.
The NDC is my political home, and my loyalty and commitment to its cause remain unwavering”.
The development comes on the back of Sammy Gyamfi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), taking the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, to the cleaners over his recent threat of jailing officials of the GoldBod.
Sammy Gyamfi described Afenyo-Markin’s comments as “the fanciful efficiency of a palm wine bar”, saying they should be treated as comic relief rather than serious parliamentary commentary.
He stated, “My good brother, Felix, says something. He says politics is a contact sport. So, when you are involved in politics, you are involved in boxing; you should be ready for tackles. You should be ready for punches. And some of us are vaccinated against political mischief. We’ve taken the vaccine, so we are not worried at all,” he said.
Sammy Gyamfi went on to slam the Minority Leader over his record at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) as board chairman, “But what I want to say is this: If the one under whose tenure as board chairman at ECG, you know, where ECG recorded a loss of 8.2 billion, is not facing any onerous bail terms, and how can Sammy Gyamfi under whose tenure the Gold Board has exported 170 tonnes of gold through formal channels and brought into this country over 17 billion United States dollars in one and a half years, face onerous bill terms?
“Such statements are reckless. They are what I call the fanciful efficiencies of, you know, of a palm wine bar; you take it as comic relief, and it is very sad. See, when we say this, he says we are insulting. We are not insulting him,” he said.
Sammy Gyamfi also accused the Effutu legislator of being a noisemaker who is denigrating the seat of the Minority Leader.
He added, “This is somebody occupying a seat once occupied by the venerable JH Mensah, the venerable Papa Owusu Amkomah, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu. Look at the depth and the substance of these personalities. When they rose to speak in Parliament, look at the command they commanded across the aisle, and look at how this seat has now been so bastardised and depraved by a noisemaker who cannot even read and research and get his facts right”.
“So, I will go. I will go to prison in his brain, and I will have onerous bill terms in his brain. I’m not. I’m not afraid of any intimidating taxes because we are serving Ghana in good conscience, and our resources and posterity will speak for us.”
See the post below:
— Nii Lantey Vanderpuye🇬🇭🦁 (@niilantevanpee) August 20, 2026
@ghnow_ “I will go to Prison in his brain. “I am not afraid of any intimidation” – Hon Sammy Gyamfi to Hon Afenyo Markin #GHnow #Fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Hon. Sammy Gymafi responds to Hon. Afenyo Markin #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
