Sammy Gyamfi, PMMC acting MD
Economist and risk analyst Dr. Theo Acheampong has called on President John Dramani Mahama to take swift action in response to the growing backlash over a viral video of Sammy Gyamfi giving money to Evangelist Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Agradaa.
In a post on social media, Dr. Acheampong questioned the silence from the presidency and pointed to the newly launched Code of Conduct for political appointees as a benchmark for ethical behavior in public office.
“However you look at it, President Mahama MUST ACT on this Sammy Gyamfi matter,” he wrote. “Last I remember the Code of Conduct was only launched a few days ago.”
Acheampong highlighted the President’s personal commitment, as captured in the foreword of the Code of Conduct on page 9, where Mahama pledged to “deal swiftly and decisively” with any breaches of ethical standards by political appointees. He further cited item C of the Statement of Ethics, which requires ministers and public officials to manage both official duties and personal affairs in a way that “withstands the closest public scrutiny.”
For emphasis, he noted that the Code applies to a wide range of government officials, including ministers, deputy ministers, CEOs and deputy CEOs of state agencies, presidential staffers, and others within the executive arm of government.
The call for action comes after Sammy Gyamfi, who serves as Managing Director of GoldBod and is a prominent political communicator, was seen in a video gifting an envelope of money to Agradaa—a figure with a controversial past and a conviction for fraud. The video sparked outrage, with critics questioning the judgment and optics of such a gesture from a high-ranking appointee.
Though Gyamfi has since apologized and explained that the gesture was a private act of kindness done without publicity in mind, Acheampong and others insist the incident is a test case for the government’s own ethical code.
With public scrutiny mounting, the pressure is now on President Mahama to demonstrate that the Code of Conduct is not just symbolic, but a living document to guide real action and accountability.
