Of course we predicted it, and it has come to pass.
There was no way the President was going to crack the whip on his darling boy as a few people thought. For those who understand the workings of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) according to President John Mahama, his clearance came as no surprise.
The interventions by pro-NDC elements including a so-called Association of Fetish Priests seeking to have the President give the erring Sammy Gyamfi another chance were part of the game plan. Sammy can err for the umpteenth time and in as much as President Mahama remains the head of state with the power to hire and fire, nothing will happen to the Gold Boy.
It is instructive as observed earlier that the episode is taking place against the backdrop of the launch of a Code of Conduct by the President, which is what exposes the President even more.
As pointed out earlier by a former Deputy Minister of Transport, Hassan Tampuli, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gushegu, the code was like the ‘Courtesy for Boys and Girls’ published during the Busia regime. It was intended to instil courtesy and discipline in school children. It lacked enforcement authority though.
The Code of Conduct is a mere document intended to hoodwink Ghanaians into believing that they are under a regime which cherishes discipline on the part of appointees and would not spare the rod.
As fate would have it, Sammy Gyamfi breaches the code and he is given the all-clear signal to carry on as if nothing ever happened.
We are being told rather subtly that when a government appointee errs or breaches the so-called ‘Code of Conduct’, John Mahama’s Magna Carta, they can simply apologise and that is it.
It is instructive to note that the apology as rendered by Sammy, the appointee, was directed at NDC supporters or foot soldiers who were peeved by the obscene profligacy. The rest of Ghanaians under the circumstances can go to hell or even burn the sea.
Sammy Gyamfi was as a matter of optics ‘summoned’ by the Chief of Staff for a drink, in the name of a query.
When you are dealing with a predictable group of persons entrusted with the management of the affairs of the country, it is not difficult to determine their reaction to developments such as the one under review.
Public confidence in the NDC government’s ability to fight corruption has been dealt another blow by this act of omission or commission by the government.
Without any shred of finesse, the President dismisses, as it were, calls for a probe of his erring appointee and expects all to be well about his image? No way, this exacted another dent in his governance image.
Let us get serious about managing the affairs of this country. What is being exhibited by those at the helms is nothing to write home about.
Our good counsel and queries might be shrugged off by the NDC, but the President and his government should be mindful about public opinion.
Ghanaians are observing the double standards of government, and when the day of reckoning is due, their reaction will be swift and decisive.
