Sammy Gyamfi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod)

The Member of Parliament for the Bekwai Constituency, Ralph Poku-Adusei, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to demonstrate a firm commitment to the rule of law and the recently launched code of ethics for appointees, in response to the controversial dollar gift incident involving Sammy Gyamfi.

Gyamfi currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) and the National Communications Officer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP expressed personal admiration for Sammy Gyamfi’s accomplishments but emphasized that the President’s response to the scandal is critical to maintaining public trust in his leadership.

The controversy centers on a viral video in which Sammy Gyamfi is seen handing over United States dollar notes to former fetish priestess Nana Agradaa. Poku-Adusei described the action as a breach of the Foreign Exchange Act, 2006 (Act 723), among other concerns.

“Ordinarily, this is not an issue the NPP would take up, but the magnitude—we are talking about foreign currency, United States dollars—is a bit frightening. What has drawn our attention is the potential for this to set a dangerous precedent,” Poku-Adusei stated.

In a separate interview on GhOne, he emphasized that the NPP’s primary concern is ensuring that the President adheres to his own code of conduct, which was launched just a week prior and had been widely praised as a positive step toward ethical governance.

“We commended the President when the code of conduct was rolled out; we all saw it as a step in the right direction. But barely a week later, his own communications director, who also heads GoldBod, is seen flouting this very code. Clearly, the President must set an example,” he said.

Poku-Adusei clarified that the NPP is not calling for Sammy Gyamfi’s dismissal but insists that the law must apply equally to all citizens.

“Let me be clear: the NPP is not pushing for Honorable Sammy Gyamfi to lose his job. We want to ensure that the law in this country works and applies to everyone equally. There is a law that prohibits unauthorized transactions in foreign currency—the Foreign Exchange Act. If you break that law, the law must take its course,” he emphasized.

The MP cited past cases involving figures like Cecilia Dapaah and Victoria Hammah, where legal consequences followed allegations of financial misconduct, and questioned why Sammy Gyamfi’s case should be treated differently.

He commended the Chief of Staff for reprimanding Sammy Gyamfi but urged that the matter be handed over to state investigative authorities for appropriate action.

“The Chief of Staff has done well by inviting and reprimanding him. That in itself is commendable. But it should not end there. The matter should be referred to the relevant state investigative bodies to take over,” advised Poku-Adusei, who is also a legal practitioner.

Despite his criticism, the Bekwai MP acknowledged Sammy Gyamfi’s achievements, stating, “As I said, I personally admire the man. For a 35-year-old to serve as the communications director of a main opposition party and help bring them into government is no small feat. That said, when you make a mistake, it must be called out.”

He encouraged Sammy Gyamfi to view the current scrutiny as an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

The viral video showing Sammy Gyamfi handing out US dollar notes to Evangelist Patricia Oduro, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, has sparked widespread public outcry and political backlash. Critics, including members of the Minority in Parliament, have condemned the act as a breach of conduct, citing violations of Ghana's Currency Act and the Code of Conduct for public officials. They have called for his suspension and a full investigation into the source of the funds.

Sammy Gyamfi has since apologized for the incident, describing it as a private act of kindness.

GA

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