A Public Interest Advocate, Rodaline Imoru Ayarna has said President Mahama’s pardon and caution to Sammy Gyamfi over his dollar-gift saga is the appropriate step needed to resolve the matter.
The Acting CEO of Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi has been engulfed in a controversy recently after a viral video showed him gifting dollar notes to Evangelist Nana Agradaa.
The video stirred backlash against Sammy Gyamfi while many called on the President to sanction him for such conduct as it is believed to have breached the Code of Conduct for state appointees.
Ayarna noted that the issue was blown out of proportion as Sammy Gyamfi committed no crime.
She argued that the conduct by Sammy Gyamfi is not one to warrant a dismissal or suspension from the President as many had expected.
“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.
Speaking in an interview on The Big Issue on TV3’s New Day, Thursday, May 14, Madam Ayarna criticised the NPP and Minority MPs who held a press conference over the matter demanding an immediate dismissal of Sammy Gyamfi as Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board.
She noted that even members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have dollar notes in their possession and questioned what the “hypocrisy” was all about.
“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.
“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 May 14, 2025, Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu said Sammy Gyamfi has been cautioned by the President and Chief of Staff and no further punitive action will be taken against him.
Kwakye Ofosu noted that following Sammy Gyamfi’s apology for his action, the President has acknowledged same and believes he has shown regret for his conduct, hence Mr. Gyamfi has been pardoned.
“The Acting CEO of Goldbod has been cautioned, with no further action expected to be meted out to him,” he told journalists.
“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.
“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.
“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.
He explained that the decision was arrived at because Mr Gyamfi has already complied with one of the sanctions prescribed in the Code of Conduct.
“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 stated.
