After an internal review and acceptance of Sammy Gyamfi’s apology, the presidency has issued an official caution in response to the public outcry over a widely shared video that shows the National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Communications Officer giving some amount of dollar notes as a gift to a popular televangelist.
Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, conveyed this decision on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to ethical conduct and accountability.
According to Hon. Kwakye Ofosu, this immediate act of contrition by Sammy Gyamfi was noted and appreciated by the presidency.
“A day after the incident, the chief of staff summoned him to the presidency to learn about what transpired. The invitation was honoured by Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, and he indicated to the chief of staff what his side of the story is, what explanation there is for what we all saw in the video.”
Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications
According to him, at the time of the meeting, President Mahama was out of the country and was therefore unable to personally attend to the matter.
However, upon his return, he was comprehensively briefed by the Chief of Staff, Hon. Julius Debrah, about the incident, the apology tendered, and the details of the interaction with Sammy Gyamfi.
Hon. Kwakye Ofosu reiterated that the presidency views the apology as a meaningful step towards accountability and a recognition of the public’s demand for higher standards from public figures.
He reminded the public that when President Mahama launched his code of conduct for appointees, he outlined that in the event of any breaches, one of the acceptable remedies would be a public apology.
Acceptance of Apology
In line with this policy, the Presidential Spokesperson noted that Sammy Gyamfi’s apology has been accepted as an appropriate response to the lapse.
Additionally, Hon. Kwakye Ofosu indicated that the Chief of Staff took the opportunity to caution Sammy Gyamfi formally, underscoring the importance of public perception and responsibility in public life.
“There may be things that may be commonplace in our private lives, but once you become a public official, you need to be sensitive to public expectations, and therefore, that ought to guide the way that you take your steps.”
Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications
The caution issued by the Chief of Staff, he added, is a reflection of the same warning previously communicated by President Mahama to all NDC appointees: to be mindful and circumspect in their conduct, especially in situations that could easily be misinterpreted or deemed inappropriate by the public.
In light of these developments, Hon. Ofosu Kwakye noted that the presidency has concluded that no further punitive action is necessary against the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Goldbod.
According to the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, the combination of Sammy Gyamfi’s immediate apology and the formal caution issued serves as both a remedial and preventive measure.
Commitment to Ethical Leadership
He added that Sammy Gyamfi has, for his part, committed to ensuring that such an incident does not recur and that he will be more mindful in the discharge of his public duties.
Hon. Kwakye Ofosu emphasized that the presidency remains acutely aware of the high standards the Ghanaian public expects from its leaders, particularly after enduring what he described as years of poor governance.
He assured Ghanaians that the NDC administration, under the leadership of President Mahama, remains dedicated to rebuilding trust and upholding the values of integrity, transparency, and accountability.
“We value feedback. We are aware that Ghanaians expect high standards in the performance of our duties as public officials. We remain committed to meeting those high standards to ensure that we deliver the best of governance to our people”.
Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications
Even though the President’s response has been measured, some analysts might still question whether the steps taken are sufficient.
However, the NDC leadership seems determined to maintain internal unity and discipline among its members while establishing a tone of responsiveness to public concerns.
The increased scrutiny that political actors are subject to and the necessity of constant attention to detail in the pursuit of moral leadership are both brought home by this episode.
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