Deputy Communications Officer of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Malik Basintale, has said Sammy Gyamfi did nothing wrong by apologising for gifting Nana Agradaa some cash.
He says the fact that Mr. Gyamfi has apologised does not mean he has done something wrong, especially in the African context, where it is often considered proper to apologise on matters relating to morality, regardless of whether one is right or wrong.
Speaking on the Big Issue on TV3 NewDay Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Basintale indicated that if he were in Sammy’s shoes, he would have done exactly what the Acting MD of GoldBod has done.
According to him, “as a young man from the northern part of this country (Ghana), I won’t fault Sammy Gyamfi for even apologising and the reason is that, per my training, whether you’re right or wrong, when there is an uproar on morality, whether you’re right or wrong, you need to apologise even before you explain yourself.”
“Even if I were in his shoes, as an African child and someone from the north, I would apologise even before explaining myself,” he reiterated, adding that he had been scolded several times as a child for things he didn’t do, which he subsequently apologised for before getting the opportunity to explain himself and establish his innocence.
Basintale’s comments come on the back of the Minority in Parliament’s call for Mr. Gyamfi to be dismissed or suspended for gifting some cash to Nana Agradaa, a fetish priestess-turned-evangelist who clung to him and demanded money for fuel after they met at a funeral.
According to Agradaa, Sammy gave her US$800, which has sparked public outrage, especially after President Mahama launched a Code of Conduct for Public Officials a few days earlier, detailing how public officials should conduct themselves to avoid creating public disaffection.
Critics have pointed to the video as potentially undermining the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, which emphasizes integrity, accountability, and transparency in public service.
Many party faithful have been outraged after the incident, not over the gesture per se, but the person involved, who is a controversial religious figure claiming to be an evangelist after being previously arrested for defrauding many as a fetish priestess.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gyamfi was summoned to the Jubilee House by the Chief of Staff on Monday, May 12, 2025, following the incident, to explain the circumstances surrounding the controversial gift that has sparked criticism and raised concerns over the conduct of public officials.
I’ll return your $800, I can’t be the reason for his dismissal – Agradaa on Sammy Gyamfi’s gift
