Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called on the government to acknowledge former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the Gold-for-Reserve policy currently being implemented under President John Mahama.

Speaking in response to President Mahama's State of the Nation Address (SoNa) on Friday, Effutu MP Afenyo-Markin commended the administration for the economic gains realized through the policy but emphasized that the initiative’s intellectual origins belong to Bawumia.

"The president is telling us today that some gains have been made through this Gold-for-Reserve policy," he said. 

"Mr Speaker, what they have failed to tell Ghanaians is that the Bawumia they attacked is the [originator] of this policy."

Afenyo-Markin, drawing on a local proverb, urged the government to fairly recognize the contributions of political opponents when merited. 

"I would want to urge the government to give to Bawumia what belongs to Bawumia," he added.

The Gold-for-Reserve policy, which allows the Bank of Ghana to increase its reserves through gold transactions, has been highlighted as a key instrument in stabilising the country’s foreign exchange reserves and supporting macroeconomic stability.