President John Dramani Mahama appears to be facing a formidable challenge, as numerous prominent Ghanaian figures are mounting pressure on him to dismiss his appointee, Sammy Gyamfi, in light of the ongoing scandal.
The scandal, which shows no signs of abating, erupted after video footage surfaced showing Sammy Gyamfi, the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Gold Board, counting US dollars and handing the cash to Patricia Oduro Koranteng, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, a former fetish priestess turned evangelist.
Following widespread backlash after the video surfaced, Gyamfi apologized for his actions and stated that the gesture was intended as a private act of kindness.
However, his explanation has been dismissed by those calling for his removal, who argue that such conduct is inappropriate for a public official and undermines the government’s credibility.
Here are some personalities who have called for Gyamfi’s dismissal:
Frank Bannor
Development Economist and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy, Dr Frank Bannor, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to demonstrate his commitment to ethical governance by removing Sammy Gyamfi from his position as CEO of the Ghana Gold Board.
In an interview with ABCNews and posted on 3news.com, Dr Bannor stated that Gyamfi’s ostentatious display of wealth directly contravenes the president’s own Code of Conduct for appointees, and emphasised that Mahama must apply the same standards without hesitation in this case.
“President Mahama recently launched the Code of Ethics for his appointees, in which he indicated that any appointee who is caught engaging in opulent lifestyle would be immediately dismissed. Sammy Gyamfi has done just that, so he should be dismissed immediately.
“If Mahama is worth his salt, he should sack Sammy Gyamfi from office with immediate effect. The code of ethics he read to the hearing of all Ghanaians stipulates, in part, that an appointee who engages in opulence would be dismissed. He should walk the talk now,” he stated as quoted by 3news.
Transparency International Ghana
Mary Awelana Addah, the Executive Director of Transparency International Ghana, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to act decisively in response to the escalating controversy surrounding a monetary donation given to fetish priestess turned evangelist, Patricia Oduro Koranteng, also known as Nana Agradaa, by Sammy Gyamfi, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
“I believe that certainly, this is an opportunity for the President to demonstrate above and beyond that he means business by putting in place this Code of Conduct. We have had occasion to say that we would also want to see the Conduct of Public Officers passed, so that some of these behaviours can be criminalised,” she is quoted by citinewsroom.com as saying.
Theo Acheampong
Theo Acheampong, an economist and risk analyst, has also weighed in on the controversy, urging President Mahama to take decisive action.
He referenced the president’s own foreword on page 9 of the Code of Conduct, which unequivocally states: “I pledge to DEAL SWIFTLY and DECISIVELY with any political appointee who breaches any of the standards set out in this Code of Conduct.”
He is of the view that the president’s failure to uphold this pledge could severely undermine his stated commitment to fighting corruption, as well as damage the integrity and credibility of his administration in the eyes of the public.
“However you look at it, President Mahama MUST ACT on this Sammy Gyamfi matter. Last I remember the Code of Conduct was only launched a few days ago. Page 9 of President Mahama’s foreword on the code of conduct states, ‘I pledge to DEAL SWIFTLY and DECISIVELY with any political appointee who breaches any of the standards set out in this Code of Conduct.’
“Item C of the Statement of Ethics on p.12 also states that the Minister must ‘perform his/her official duties and manage his/her personal affairs in a manner that WITHSTANDS the closest public scrutiny.’ For the avoidance of doubt, the Code of Conduct applies to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Presidential Staffers, Chief Executive Officers and Deputy Chief Executive Officers of state and para-statal institutions, members of the Council of State and other political appointees in the executive arm of Government—p.10,” he wrote on Facebook on May 11, 2025.
Effah Dartey
Private legal practitioner and politician, Captain Nkrabea Effah Dartey (Rtd), in his view believes that Gyamfi’s actions appear to be a deliberate test of President John Mahama’s resolve to enforce the Code of Conduct for appointees.
He emphasised that decisive action should be taken to set a clear example, both to government appointees and to the wider Ghanaian public, about the consequences of breaching ethical standards.
“Sammy Gyamfi wants to test the president on the Code of Conduct and find out whether he is serious in his campaign, or it is a nine-day wonder or a mere joke.
“Because anyone who hears this will know that Sammy Gyamfi’s action is not the best. So, the president must punish him and set him as an example,” he stated as quoted by adomonline.com.
Elvis Darko
Editor of Newscenta Newspaper, Elvis Darko, has issued a strong warning to President John Dramani Mahama, cautioning that any failure to dismiss Sammy Gyamfi from his position as Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board could significantly undermine the credibility of the recently launched Code of Conduct for presidential appointees.
Speaking during an interview on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Monday, May 12, Darko characterised the situation as a crucial test of President Mahama’s leadership and the practical enforceability of the code, stressing that the outcome will reflect the administration’s true stance on accountability and ethical governance.
“The only thing that can save him is when the president decides that he won’t sack him. But this is where the president is going to be in a tight corner. This is his first test after launching the code of conduct.
“So, if the president also fails to sack Sammy Gyamfi, the question is if subsequent appointees also breach the code, will the president have the honour to sack those people? So, now, once the president fails to sack Sammy Gyamfi, it means that he has set a certain precedent that if others should breach the code, he will not sack them,” he said in an interview on Channel One.
MAG/AE
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