A controversy surrounding a cash gift given by Sammy Gyamfi, Acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, to self-styled evangelist Agradaa, has sparked widespread backlash. Ernest Kofi Owusu Bempah, Deputy National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has come to Sammy Gyamfi’s defense.
Speaking on NET2 TV, Owusu Bempah said, “How much is $10,000 that Sammy Gyamfi can’t afford? There’s nothing wrong with what he did.”
He emphasized that without empirical evidence of wrongdoing, the criticism against Sammy Gyamfi is unfounded.
“If anyone has evidence that he has stolen money, they should bring it forward for the Special Prosecutor to take it up,” Owusu Bempah stated.
“If, for instance, there were €50,000 missing from the GoldBod account and he was seen distributing cash, that would be a legitimate cause for concern. But in the absence of empirical evidence, this is just jealousy” he added.
Owusu Bempah also alleged that some appointees in the past NPP administration used to give large sums of money to women behind the scenes without facing criticism.
“We know people in the NPP who spray $50,000 on ladies behind the scenes. He who comes with equity must come with clean hands. The noise about Sammy Gyamfi’s gift is dead on arrival. No one has the moral right to criticize him over this matter” he said.
Sammy Gyamfi has since apologized for the gesture, describing it as “unfortunate” and “regrettable.”