The Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Hon. Edem Agbana, has clarified that GoldBod CEO and Presidential appointee Sammy Gyamfi was not pardoned or cleared in connection with the controversial Nana Agradaa dollar gift scandal.
Speaking publicly on the matter, Hon. Agbana criticized both elements within the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and sections of the media for mischaracterizing the nature of the presidential action taken against Gyamfi by President John Dramani Mahama.
“Now when the Chief of Staff summoned him, he listened to his side of the story and waited for the president to come take action.
“The president says he has been cautioned. After the caution, NPP people are in town shouting that he has been cleared, he has been pardoned and I think it’s important that we correct that notion”
Hon. Edem Agbana, Member of Parliament for Ketu North
Hon. Agbana stated unequivocally that Sammy Gyamfi was cautioned, not cleared or pardoned, and that the difference between these terms must be properly understood both in legal and moral contexts. In addressing the confusion, Hon. Agbana offered a detailed explanation of the distinctions between the three concepts.
“There is a clear difference between pardon, between clearance or clearing of a person, and between caution. These three – caution, clearance, and pardon – are not the same things”
Hon. Edem Agbana, Member of Parliament for Ketu North
According to Hon. Agbana, clearance refers to a situation in which investigations establish no wrongdoing, making any form of apology or sanction unnecessary.
Pardon, he explained, comes into play when a person is found guilty but is then granted mercy by the President. Caution, however, is different and often employed in situations of “minor misconduct” where wrongdoing does not necessarily involve illegality.
“Caution is a form of punishment and every jurisdiction has it. Even in our schools and in our institutions, there’s caution”
Hon. Edem Agbana, Member of Parliament for Ketu North
Hon. Agbana emphasized that in nations such as the United Kingdom, a caution is issued when an individual admits to minor wrongdoing. He stressed that while this does not always carry legal consequences, it is a disciplinary measure and reflects the expectations of higher standards for public officials.
Mahama’s Expectations
Hon. Agbana noted that President Mahama’s decision to caution Gyamfi is consistent with the administration’s efforts to enforce accountability and maintain public trust.
“The gentleman in question, Sammy Gyamfi, has been cautioned. It means that President Mahama expects that his appointees will live to a higher standard”
Hon. Edem Agbana, Member of Parliament for Ketu North
According to the MP, this signals the exemplary behavior demanded from those in public office under the NDC government – even if their actions do not violate any law. He argued that ethical expectations must not be conflated with legality, citing an example from everyday conduct to illustrate his point.
“For example, as we are on this show, I can decide to walk out of the show before the program ends. It is not illegal to do so, but it may be wrong, so my party can caution me”
Hon. Edem Agbana, Member of Parliament for Ketu North
No Law Breach
Hon. Agbana maintained that Sammy Gyamfi did not breach any law or any established code of conduct for public office holders, but the optics of the incident demanded a response from the highest level of leadership.
In a more political turn, the MP criticized the NPP for attempting to dominate the conversation around Gyamfi’s conduct.
“I say this without any disrespect to them but the NPP is so betrayed when it comes to these matters. They have no moral authority to even comment or be the ones leading the charge – demanding that Sammy Gyamfi should be sacked”
Hon. Edem Agbana, Member of Parliament for Ketu North
Arguing that the NPP’s track record offers them little to no high ground on matters of ethics and accountability, he reiterated that the action taken by President Mahama was appropriate and measured. He emphasized that a caution should not be misconstrued as an admission of criminal behavior nor an exoneration.
Hon. Agbana ended by asserting that the government’s posture on integrity and reform remains intact, and that the President’s measured response reflects a leadership style committed to discipline without political showmanship.
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