Josiah
Senior citizen and former Minister of State under the Rawlings administration, Professor Kojo Yankah, has come to the defense of Sammy Gyamfi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), following public backlash over a controversial dollar gift to televangelist and former fetish priestess Patricia Oduro Koranteng Asiamah, widely known as Nana Agradaa.
The incident, which occurred at a funeral on Saturday, May 10, captured Gyamfi handing over U.S. dollar notes to Agradaa—a moment that quickly sparked widespread outrage and condemnation on social media.
In response, Gyamfi, who also serves as the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), issued a statement on Sunday clarifying the gesture. He described it as a personal act of kindness, insisting he had no intention for it to become public.
“I sincerely thought that I was doing this act of kindness in private and never imagined it would find its way into the public space. That is unfortunate and regrettable,” Gyamfi said.
He further expressed remorse to NDC supporters and others who were offended, saying, “I am sincerely sorry for this unfortunate act of indiscretion. I respect and appreciate your views.”
Weighing in on the controversy, Professor Kojo Yankah praised Gyamfi for his humility and accountability in the face of criticism. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Yankah stated, “To my knowledge, Sammy Gyamfi has not broken any law.” He added that the incident serves as “a lesson to all politicians—aspiring and active.”
The former minister also reflected on the broader significance of the public discourse, suggesting that the reactions signal a changing political culture in Ghana. “The discussions around this incident tell of a new Ghana,” he wrote, alluding to increasing public demand for transparency and ethical conduct in public life.
The controversy continues to stir debate on the intersection of public office, private actions, and accountability in Ghanaian politics.
Source:Omanghana.com
