Accra: Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the GoldBod procurement process, which involves Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe. According to him, labeling the matter as a "scandal" is inappropriate and does not accurately represent the situation.
According to Ghana Web, Kwakye Ofosu argued during an interview with Channel One on March 17, 2026, that the term "scandal" often implies wrongdoing or a conflict of interest, which he believes is not present in this case. He emphasized that the Deputy Chief of Staff's company existed well before his current appointment and has a verified track record of successfully executing projects.
Kwakye Ofosu clarified that the company participated in and won a competitive bidding process for the Gold Board's office refurbishment. He stated, "The deputy chief of staff has a company that existed for many years before he became deputy chief of staff, which has done projects. They have a track record that you can verify for yourself."
The minister further noted that Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe does not have the authority to unilaterally award contracts, dispelling any suggestions of influence peddling. He explained that any assumptions about Dogbe's ability to commandeer contracts are unfounded, given his position under the chief of staff's auspices.
Kwakye Ofosu also made a comparison with cabinet-level decision-making, distinguishing this case from other instances involving conflict of interest, such as former Minister of Agriculture Bryan Acheampong's interest in SSNIT hotels. He highlighted that conflict of interest arises only when an official benefits directly from decisions they were involved in making.
He stressed the importance of examining whether due process was followed, rather than engaging in speculation. He pointed out that if the Deputy Chief of Staff were involved in decision-making from which he directly profited, only then would there be a clear conflict of interest.
Kwakye Ofosu also clarified that the GoldBod does not fall under the Presidency but rather under the Ministry of Finance, distancing the procurement from the seat of government. He reiterated that conflict of interest is established only when a public official benefits from a decision they directly influenced.
The controversy began with allegations that the Ghana Gold Board awarded an office renovation contract worth GHS11 million to a company owned by Stan Dogbe through sole-sourcing. However, GoldBod refuted these claims in a statement dated March 14, 2026, explaining that the contract was awarded through a restricted tendering process approved by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).