A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, says Ghanaians are now demanding higher standards from public officials.
His comments follow widespread, bipartisan condemnation of the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, over a viral video in which he gifted dollar notes to self-styled evangelist, Nana Agradaa, from his luxury vehicle.
Despite issuing an apology, Gyamfi continues to face public backlash, with calls from the Minority Caucus and anti-corruption campaigners for his suspension by the President.
Speaking on TV3’s New Day on Wednesday, May 14, Dr. Zaato said the outrage reflects the kind of leadership Ghanaians now expect.
“Probably, it means that going forward, Ghanaians, of all, are saying we want better governments. We want improved government,” he said.
“We want to see more ethics and we are not going to sit down and allow a few appointed government officials to make bad decisions, to use their political positions, to use their powerful offices to surcharge and defeat us. So I’m happy about that, and I’m happy that the condemnation is wholesale,” he added.
Dr. Zaato, however, expressed doubt that the President would act on the calls for Gyamfi’s removal, stating he may fail the test of enforcing ethical standards for his appointees enshrined in his recently launched code of conduct.
