Elvis Darko, Editor of the Newscenta Newspaper, has cautioned President John Dramani Mahama that failing to remove Sammy Gyamfi from his position as Acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board could severely damage the credibility of the recently launched Code of Conduct for presidential appointees. His warning comes in the wake of a viral video showing Gyamfi handing over an undisclosed amount of money—reportedly in U.S. dollars—to evangelist and former fetish priestess Patricia Asiedua Asiama, widely known as Nana Agradaa.
The footage has sparked significant public outrage, with many questioning the appropriateness of the act due to Agradaa’s controversial reputation and past legal troubles.
While the motivation behind the cash handover remains unclear, critics argue that the act undermines the core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability—principles at the heart of President Mahama’s new Code of Conduct. The code was introduced to raise ethical standards for public officeholders and help restore public confidence in government.
Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Monday, May 12, Elvis Darko characterized the situation as a defining moment for the President.
“This is President Mahama’s first real test after launching the code. If he doesn’t act, it raises serious questions about enforcement,” Darko stated. “The only thing that could shield the president now is if he refuses to dismiss Gyamfi, but doing so will put him in a difficult position.”
He added that failure to act decisively could set a troubling precedent, potentially weakening the code’s authority and encouraging future violations.
“If the president doesn’t sack Sammy Gyamfi, how can he justify sacking others who breach the code later? It creates a double standard,” Darko warned.
He also noted the possible internal tensions such a decision could cause within the NDC.
“If he fires others for similar offenses, there will be discontent within the party, with claims of favoritism towards Sammy,” he said.
Darko concluded by outlining the dilemma: “Either the president dismisses Gyamfi to send a clear message or accepts the apology—implying that apologies will be enough for any future breach.”
Sammy Gyamfi, in a statement on Sunday, May 11, apologized for the incident, describing it as a private act of generosity that unintentionally became public. However, the apology has not quelled public concerns, with many still demanding accountability.
In response, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has summoned Gyamfi for an explanation. The presidency now faces mounting pressure—from both the public and party ranks—to take decisive action in line with the ethical standards recently outlined.