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National Democratic Congress (NDC) stalwart and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, Hon. Isaac Adongo, has come to the defense of acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, following public backlash over a viral video showing him handing an undisclosed amount of U.S. dollars to evangelist Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, popularly known as Nana Agradaa.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, May 14, Hon. Adongo described the act as an “error in judgment,” emphasizing that while Gyamfi should have exercised better discretion as a public official, his actions should not overshadow his broader contributions to Ghana’s gold sector reform.
“Of course, he should have known now that he’s a public figure and His Excellency is very mindful of the sentiments of Ghanaians relating to those matters, and so yes, I would say that it’s an error. He’s aired and I think he will learn from it.” He said
The incident, which stirred intense public debate and concern over a potential breach of Ghana’s Foreign Exchange Act and the Code of Conduct for public appointees, has led to calls from civil society groups and some opposition figures for Sammy AduGyamfi’s dismissal. Critics argue that the gesture undermined public trust and violated the ethical standards expected of government officials.
Gyamfi, in response to the uproar, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to issue a public apology. He explained that his actions were in line with his “daily and life-long custom of lending a helping hand to people in need,” and pledged to exercise better judgment going forward.
In a final decision on the matter, President John Dramani Mahama announced that no further disciplinary action will be taken against Gyamfi. While accepting the apology, the President issued a stern warning, emphasizing the need for public officials to uphold the highest ethical standards in both their public and private lives.
However, Hon. Isaac Adongo urged a measured response, citing Gyamfi’s track record and the significant strides he has made in establishing the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
Acknowledging the political climate, the Ranking member on Parliament’s Finance Committee suggested that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) might seize upon such incidents to target prominent NDC figures
“He still has a long future and I do believe that we cannot throw out the bath water with the baby. This is a shining star for us. He’s so far done very well to start GoldBod from scratch. The kinds of systems he is developing at GoldBod to ensure that we have a very robust gold export regime is commendable,
“Of course, he’s made an error, and given the kind of work that he did against the previous government, you should expect that they will come after him.” He said
With the controversy now drawing to a close, focus is expected to return to GoldBod’s ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening Ghana’s position in the global gold market.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.net
