The 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, popularly known as Kozie, has described President Mahama’s exoneration of Sammy Gyamfi in the recent “dollar gift” scandal as unsurprising and indicative of what she calls “a culture of selective accountability”.
Speaking on Metro TV on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Kozie said the President’s decision to shield Mr. Gyamfi who also serves as the acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board from disciplinary action despite a viral video of him handing U.S. dollars to evangelist Nana Agradaa shows the extent to which the President can go to protect his own.
“There are several people who do things and do not have the luxury of just apologizing. The law comes down hard on them,” Kozie remarked. “But when it involves one of their own, especially a figure like Sammy Gyamfi, it’s swept under the carpet.”
The video, which surfaced earlier this month, showed Mr. Gyamfi handing over dollars to the controversial evangelist, prompting widespread public backlash. Critics, including civil society organizations and even some within the NDC argued the gesture violated the Foreign Exchange Act and undermined ethical standards expected of public officials.
This, Kozie noted that Mr. Gyamfi’s past criticisms of former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah, who faced public scrutiny over large cash sums allegedly found in her home, only made the current scandal more ironic.
“The victim, in this case now Sammy Gyamfi, treated others in times past, as recent as Madam Cecilia Dapaah badly in the media. So why should he get a free pass when caught doing the very thing he condemned?” she asked.
President Mahama, through his Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced that he had accepted Mr. Gyamfi’s apology and issued a stern warning but would not pursue further disciplinary action. The decision has triggered accusations of hypocrisy and weakened public trust in the NDC’s commitment to accountability.
The incident continues to spark debate across the political spectrum, with analysts warning that such unresolved controversies contribute to voter apathy and a deepening distrust in public office holders.
