Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Commission and member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto Committees for 2020 and 2024, Dr. Tony Aubynn, has firmly dismissed suggestions that the party’s Goldbod concept was inspired by or copied from former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s Gold-for-Oil initiative, asserting that the NDC holds both the moral and intellectual patent to the idea.
In a Facebook post dated Wednesday, January 7, 2025, Dr. Aubynn expressed surprise and disappointment at insinuations linking the Goldbod program, to Bawumia’s policy, describing such claims as “untruth” that must be put to “perpetual rest” for historical accuracy.
Dr. Aubynn highlighted his personal involvement in drafting the mining sections of the NDC’s manifestos, noting that the Goldbod idea was first introduced in the 2020 document, predating Bawumia’s Gold-for-Oil scheme by two years.
“It is surprising and disappointing to hear some people insinuate that the Goldbod concept was copied or inspired by Bawumia’s Gold4Something hub-wash. Nothing could be farther from the truth,” he wrote.
“To ensure historical accuracy, this untruth must be put to perpetual rest. I was a central part of the drafting of the mining section of NDCs 2020 Manifesto in which the Goldbod idea was broached. Dr. Bawumia had not fathomed or slept to dream anything closer to that.”
He further explained that the concept was carried forward into the 2024 manifesto, where he led the drafting process, served as spokesperson, and spearheaded the mining campaign.
“Goldbod was in the NDC 2020 Manifesto, two years before Dr. Bawumia’s Gold-for-oil idea came up. In 2024, again, I literally led the drafting of the mining section of the 2024 Manifesto and was privileged to serve not only as its spokesperson but also led the campaign on mining. The Goldbod concept was literally lifted from the 2020 NDC Manifesto to the 2024 one,” he wrote.
“Please, in the name of Jah the ever merciful, stop this untruth. NDC hold both the moral and intellectual patent of the Goldbod concept,” he added.
Following recent economic gains and stabilization of the Ghana cedi, credit has been given to the operations of the Ghana Gold Board for being instrumental in the economic gains.
However, members of the opposition have argued that credit ought to be given to Dr. Bawumia’s Gold-for-Oil barter deal, introduced in 2022 under the Akufo-Addo administration, aimed at exchanging gold for petroleum products to ease foreign exchange pressures.