The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Edudzi Tameklo, has said that he considers the recently launched Code of Conduct by President Mahama as a Bible.
According to him, this is because Ghanaians expect appointees of President John Mahama to live above reproach.
“I have taken the code of conduct as a Bible. Immediately it came out, I had a copy on my phone so that I can easily be going through it as a guide ,” he said on TV3’s Big Issue on May 12.
Mr Tameklo made this comment while contributing to discussions on what has now become known as the Sammy Gyamfi-Agradaa saga.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi was seen a video that has gone viral giving dollars to a renowned Prophet, Agradaa. This has attracted severe backlash from various quarters. Subsequently, Mr Gyamfi apologised.
“I sincerely thought that I was doing this act of kindness in private, and never imagined that same could find its way into the public space. That is unfortunate and regrettable. I must say that I understand the uproar that this gesture has generated, particularly from comrades who are sincerely hurt by same. To all such comrades, I AM SINCERELY SORRY for this unfortunate act of indiscretion,” he wrote on social media on May 11.
President Mahama launched the code as part of his 120-day social contract with Ghanaians. The objective is to guide the conduct of his appointees. At the launch, he warned that anyone who flouts the code of conduct will be sanctioned.
Mr Tameklo stressed that although Sammy Gyamfi did not breach the code of conduct in the issue under discussion, it has become topical because of the high standard of governance expected of President John Mahama’s appointees.
He therefore urged his colleague appointees to live above reproach.
“We live in a political environment that has placed a higher standard, particularly on appointees of President Mahama. And I can appreciate the reason for this higher standard. If you look at where we are coming from, the 8 years of decal among others.
“The ordinary Ghanaians has a higher expectation of all of us appointees of President Mahama. The other thing that President Mahama has also done is the opportunity given to us very young people to serve in his government. In fact, almost 70% of us are persons who are less than 50 years of age,” Mr Tameklo stated.
“Thankfully, my brother Sammy, immediately this matter was brought to his attention, has publicly come out to apologise to the good people of this country that he acknowledges that this thing has robbed, not properly, with the sensibilities of Ghanaians. So, he has apologised to the good people of this country and his excellency the President.
“I think that the lesson for all of us, including myself, is the fact that the standard we will be judged with is a very high standard. So, it requires that we will be sensitive to our environment and the things that happen around us. It’s become a lesson for all of us,” he said.
The Ag. NPA CEO revealed that the incident happened at the one-week observation Prophet Nigel Gaisie.
“It was at Nigel Gaisie’s dad’s one week that my good brother Sammy met Patricia, the Prophetess. And in the conversation, you know Agradaa has always had issues with Owusu Bempah, he admonished that there is a need for peace, that’s all. Then Subsequently what happened, happened,” he said.
Read also: Anybody who believes Sammy Gyamfi did nothing wrong is talking from a politically coloured lens – Mary Addah
