Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) board member characterised the incident as a misstep but emphasised Gyamfi’s significant contributions to both the NDC and the country.

“Of course, Sammy Gyamfi should have known that he is a public figure, and President John Mahama is mindful of Ghanaians’ sentiments relating to those matters,” Mr Adongo acknowledged. “I would say it is an error; he has erred, and I think he will learn from it.”

The Bolgatanga Central MP urged the public and party faithful to take a broader view of Gyamfi’s record, particularly highlighting his leadership in establishing the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).

“He is a shining star for us [NDC] and has so far done very well to start GoldBod from scratch. The kinds of systems he is developing at GoldBod to ensure that we have a very robust gold export regime are commendable,” he stated.

Acknowledging the tense political environment, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee suggested that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) could exploit such moments to discredit key NDC figures.

“Given the kind of work that he did against the NPP government in 2024, you should expect that they will come after him,” he noted.

Despite the controversy, Adongo called for understanding and support for promising young leaders like Sammy Gyamfi.

“He still has a long future ahead of him, and I do believe that we cannot throw out the baby with the bathwater,” he remarked.

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Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Dr. Asah-Asante described the situation as unfortunate but cautioned against treating it in isolation.

“It is unfortunate that what happened has happened. It is borne out of indiscretion—nothing more, nothing less. So my view is that the government will investigate and take an appropriate decision on that,” he stated.

He acknowledged Sammy Gyamfi’s public apology, describing it as a step in the right direction.

“Once you do that, it shows remorse. You have to show remorse, and it’s in there. There is also the fact that you have weighed your actions and, for that matter, you want to assure the public that there will not be a repeat of such an action,” he explained.

Dr. Asah-Asante noted that accepting responsibility voluntarily is a key part of good governance.

“It is a fine thing in politics that once you realise that you have gone wrong, you, on your own volition, come out to say that you are wrong. That is in line with governance processes.”

However, he said the larger issue lies in the double standards that characterise Ghanaian political life.

“Another issue that I can find in this area is the issue of hypocrisy in Ghanaian politics. I am not saying this to defend Sammy Gyamfi or whoever, but the hypocrisy here is that if you look at people giving gifts to their followers or their party people, look, a lot of political parties and politicians are guilty in this country.”

He cited a common practice among MPs that goes unchallenged.

“There are MPs who complain that their constituents besiege them in their offices and take money from them. Have we, as a society, commented on that?”

Dr. Asah-Asante also dismissed suggestions that the act would have been acceptable had it been done in private.

“Some are saying Sammy should’ve given the money in private—that would’ve passed. But you ask yourself, if it’s not okay in public, will it be okay in private? You see the hypocrisy in here.”

He pointed to a cultural dilemma in reconciling traditional values with professional ethics.

“We have been socialised as a society to give to the needy, to support and lend a helping hand. But when we do this, we are also caught in the ethics of our profession that say you shouldn’t do this or that.”

He warned that this confusion could present challenges for public officers in the future.

“There is a danger ahead of us as to whether people, especially public officers, can help those in need without coming under fire.”

Dr. Asah-Asante also highlighted gaps in the code of conduct regarding the giver of gifts.

“If you read the code of conduct, it is silent on the giver of a gift but talks about the recipient. What happens to the one who gives, and the person who receives and puts pressure on you? There are a lot of big conversations around this.”

He concluded with a call for national reflection.

“In light of societal demands and all that, I will urge people to reflect on the fact that, as a Ghanaian society, giving gifts or accepting gifts—is it wrong or is it not? If there’s a way we have to look at it, let’s look at it.”

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Mr. Akatsi disclosed that following the filing of his petition on May 11, 2025, he has been inundated with calls from unknown numbers—some containing direct threats and verbal abuse.

“Some of these people are invoking insults and threats as though I committed a crime,” he said.

His petition to CHRAJ seeks an investigation into suspected financial misconduct, after a viral video captured Mr. Gyamfi handing out dollar bills to popular spiritual figure, Nana Agradaa.

In the footage, Mr. Gyamfi, who also serves as CEO of Goldbod, is seen seated in a luxury Range Rover while distributing the cash.

Mr. Akatsi argued that the overt display of wealth, combined with what he claims are significant sums in Mr. Gyamfi’s Consolidated Bank Ghana accounts, raises red flags about potential corruption.

Responding to public backlash, Mr. Akatsi insisted that his actions are not politically motivated but stem from a civic duty to demand accountability.

“Let me put on record that I have nothing against Sammy. I am only exercising my right as a citizen by calling on institutions of state to investigate an issue of public interest,” he explained.

He cited Article 41 of the 1992 Constitution, which enjoins citizens to report suspected misconduct and promote the public good.

Despite the threats, Mr. Akatsi said he remains confident in CHRAJ’s ability to handle the matter impartially and with urgency. His petition calls for a full-scale probe into the source of the alleged large sums in Mr. Gyamfi’s bank accounts.

As of the time of reporting, neither Mr. Sammy Gyamfi nor Goldbod has issued an official response to the petition or the concerns it has raised.

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