A Fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr. John Osae-Kwapong, has stressed the need for swift disciplinary action in the wake of the controversial cash gift presented by Ghana Gold Board CEO, Sammy Gyamfi, to self-styled evangelist and former fetish priestess, Patricia Oduro Koranteng, popularly known as Nana Agradaa.
Dr. Osae-Kwapong believes President John Dramani Mahama must act decisively to demonstrate his commitment to upholding the newly launched Code of Conduct for Public Officials.
Speaking on Joy News’ AM Show on Monday, May 12, he stated:
“Public officials must always pass two tests — the legal test and the appearance test. They often fare well on the legal front. When issues arise, the first question is whether any law was broken. But what gets them into trouble is the appearance test. Public servants must be mindful of how things look, because that’s where trust and goodwill are often lost.”
The incident, captured in a viral video, shows Mr. Gyamfi handing over large sums of cash to Nana Agradaa — a gesture that has sparked widespread public criticism and raised concerns about the ethical standards of public officeholders. Critics say the act could undermine the credibility of President Mahama’s code of conduct, rolled out to promote transparency and accountability among appointees.
Dr. Osae-Kwapong welcomed the development and called for appropriate sanctions to be applied without delay.
“I’m glad the Chief of Staff has summoned him. I’m glad there’s an apology. And I’m glad we now have a code of conduct in place. But what matters now is the president’s response. He must act swiftly and apply the appropriate sanction to send a clear message that the code of conduct is not just symbolic — it’s a policy meant to be enforced.”
While stressing the need for accountability, Dr. Osae-Kwapong ruled out outright dismissal, suggesting a suspension would be more appropriate under the circumstances.
[embedded content]“At most, a suspension — that should suffice. But this is also an opportunity to revisit the final section of the code of conduct, especially regarding consequences for violations. That portion needs to be strengthened.”
He added that while acts of generosity by public officials are not inherently wrong, context matters.
“Nobody is against being generous. But as a public official, you must understand how your actions may be perceived. Even personal gestures can carry unintended consequences.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, May 11, Mr. Gyamfi expressed regret over the incident, describing it as a private act of generosity that was never meant to gain public attention.
Nonetheless, sources close to the Presidency say the Chief of Staff is treating the matter with utmost seriousness, given its potential political and reputational implications for the administration.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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