The ongoing controversy surrounding an $800 cash gift from Sammy Gyamfi, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), to evangelist Patricia Oduro Koranteng, also known as Nana Agradaa, has sparked a wave of mixed reactions throughout the nation. With calls from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Gyamfi’s suspension or dismissal, as well as demands for a thorough investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the situation has escalated into a highly contentious issue.
Despite the uproar, there are those who have come to Gyamfi’s defense, arguing that the circumstances do not warrant such severe punitive measures. Former Deputy Communications Minister, Victoria Hammah, who was previously dismissed by then-President John Mahama in 2013, has recently voiced her support for Gyamfi. In a Facebook post on 14 May 2025, Hammah urged President Mahama to reprimand Gyamfi rather than dismiss him, emphasizing the importance of balanced adjudication and accountability.
Hammah is not the only prominent figure to stand in solidarity with Gyamfi. Several others have publicly expressed their support for the GoldBod CEO, including:
1. Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner, who has appealed to the President not to punish Gyamfi, citing misinformation and politically motivated attacks in the controversy.
2. Malik Basintale, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), who has defended Gyamfi by asserting that possessing US dollars in Ghana is not illegal.
3. Francis-Xavier Sosu, the Member of Parliament for Madina, who has insisted that Gyamfi committed no wrongdoing and attributed the criticism to envy.
4. Ernest Owusu Bempah, the Deputy Director of Communications for the NPP, who surprisingly defended Gyamfi on Net 2 TV, pointing out that giving a cash gift is not illegal and accusing critics of hypocrisy.
Despite the growing support for Gyamfi, the Office of the President has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, leaving the public in suspense regarding the next steps. As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the situation will ultimately be resolved and what impact it will have on Gyamfi’s future at the Ghana Gold Board.
