Possession of dollars in Ghana not criminal — Basintale defends Sammy Gyamfi amid dollar sharing saga

The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency, Malik Basintale, says the possession of dollar notes by the Acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, is not a crime under Ghanaian law.

Gyamfi has come under public criticism after gifting an undisclosed amount of dollar notes to self-styled evangelist, Nana Agradaa.

Despite offering an apology, many — including the Minority Caucus and anti-corruption campaigners — have called on President John Dramani Mahama to suspend him.

However, speaking on Accra-based TV3’s New Day programme on Tuesday, May 13, Basintale argued that no law prohibits individuals from holding foreign currency.

He further asserted that if it were illegal, then forex bureaus — which exchange local currency for foreign ones — would not exist.

“The reason why it is not a crime to possess dollars in this country is because we even have forex bureaus, which are registered under the laws of this country and permit people to buy and sell dollars.

“So if it is a crime, then the forex bureaus should be turned into chop bars because it means that, simply, they are not fit to be established that you go in and then you buy to possess,” he said.

On Monday, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah summoned Sammy Gyamfi over the matter but Basintale maintains that the summons alone does not imply guilt.

“There was no official document anywhere suggesting that the Chief of Staff invited him based on A, B, C, D, and so we cannot establish that to say he is guilty,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to the Foreign Exchange Act, 2006 (Act 723), mere possession of foreign currency is not a criminal offence.

However, it is illegal to price, advertise, or make payments for goods and services in foreign currency without authorization from the Bank of Ghana.