The Executive Director of Transparency International Ghana, Mary Awelana Addah, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to take firm action in response to the growing controversy over a cash donation made by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, to former fetish priestess-turned-evangelist, Patricia Oduro Koranteng, popularly known as Nana Agradaa.
Her comments follow the circulation of a video on social media showing Sammy Gyamfi handing over an undisclosed sum of money, reportedly in dollars, to Nana Agradaa during a public event.
The gesture has triggered significant public backlash, with many Ghanaians raising concerns about the propriety of the donation in light of Agradaa’s controversial past.
Responding to the criticism, Sammy Gyamfi issued a public apology, explaining that the donation was a private act of kindness and never intended for public attention.
However, speaking on Channel One’s Newsroom with Charles Owusu-Kumi on Sunday, May 11, Mary Addah argued that the incident highlights the urgent need for stronger accountability frameworks for public officials.
“I believe that certainly, this is an opportunity for the President to demonstrate above and beyond that he means business by putting in place this Code of Conduct. We have had occasion to say that we would also want to see the Conduct of Public Officers passed, so that some of these behaviours can be criminalised,” she said.
She reiterated her call for the passage of the Conduct of Public Officers Bill, stating that it would help criminalise unethical behaviour and reinforce higher standards for public office.
“In this instance, if you go to even the Code of Conduct, you do not see a lot of punitive measures that would be in place to support whatever it is that this gentleman has been cited for,” she noted.
Mary Addah also called on the President to go beyond symbolism and issue a stern directive, particularly aimed at public officials who have not yet declared their assets.
“This is a call on the President to perhaps issue a stern warning to those who have not declared their assets to do so. That, for me, shows commitment, a little not just for the optics,” she said.
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