Dollar gift saga: President Mahama acted right for pardoning Sammy Gyamfi – Rodaline Ayarna

Public interest advocate Rodaline Imoru Ayarna has defended President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to pardon and caution the Acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, over his controversial dollar gift to evangelist Nana Agradaa.

Describing the President’s action as the “right step,” Ayarna believes the matter has been exaggerated and did not merit dismissal or suspension.

“I think we just over flogged it maybe because it is Sammy Gyamfi. So, the President pardoning him and cautioning him, I think it's in the right order. This was not one for sacking him or suspending him,” she stated.

The controversy erupted after a video surfaced showing Sammy Gyamfi handing out dollar notes to Agradaa, drawing public criticism and calls from opposition parties and some lawmakers for his immediate removal from office. However, Ayarna contended that the backlash was disproportionate, arguing that Gyamfi had committed no crime.

Speaking on TV3’s New Day programme, Ayarna questioned the integrity of New Patriotic Party (NPP) members and Minority MPs who held a press conference demanding Gyamfi’s dismissal. She challenged their moral authority, suggesting that many of them also possess foreign currency.

“I would like to ask every single one of those people who sat in the press conference whether they don't have dollars in their wardrobes. From Kabiru to whoever was sitting there. Let's not sit and pretend as if having dollars is something that is out of place,” she said.

“I would want to tell the NPP that due to bad governance every single one of us changed our cedis to dollars to protect ourselves,” she added.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, May 14, Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed that Sammy Gyamfi had been cautioned and no further action would be taken. He emphasized that Gyamfi had shown remorse for his actions and issued a public apology, which the President had accepted.

“In the last few days, there have been some matters relating to the ag chief executive officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Mr Sammy Gyamfi regarding a video that emerged of his interaction with Agradaa,” Kwakye Ofosu said. “You would recall that in the immediate aftermath of the incident, Mr Sammy issued an apology over the matter and took on board public concerns raised over same.”

He further explained that the Chief of Staff had engaged Gyamfi after the video went viral. “A day after that, the Chief of Staff summoned him to the Presidency to learn about what transpired. He indicated to the Chief of Staff what his side of the story is on what we all saw. At the time, President Mahama was out of the country so he had to be briefed on the discussion held with Mr Sammy Gyamfi. The view is that the Presidency acknowledges Mr Sammy Gyamfi's immediate expression of regret. So that apology has been taken on board,” Mr Ofosu added.

Citing the Code of Conduct launched by President Mahama, Kwakye Ofosu stressed that the measures taken aligned with stipulated remedies. “You would recall that when President Mahama launched the Code of Conduct, he said that one of the remedies for potential breaches is a public apology. He also said one of the potential remedies was a caution from the highest level of government. The Chief of Staff cautioned him, having acknowledged the apology and impressed on him to act in ways that reflect public expectation,” he explained.

The case, according to the Presidency, is now closed.