The government must restrict public gift-giving by political appointees to strengthen the fight against corruption, Prof Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC), has urged.
His comments follow public outrage over a viral video showing acting GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi handing some amount of US dollars to self-styled evangelist Patricia Oduro Koranteng, popularly known as Nana Agradaa.
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The act has drawn sharp criticism, with many questioning the ethical standards of public officials and warning that it could undermine President Mahama’s newly introduced Code of Conduct, designed to promote transparency among appointees.
In a Facebook post, Prof Prempeh argued that while charity should not be discouraged, unchecked public displays of generosity by salaried officials raise concerns about fund sources and weaken anti-corruption efforts.
“The Code of Conduct must explicitly regulate public acts of charity and ostentation by government appointees, including banning private foundations by public officers,” he stated.
He added that the Code should hold officials accountable for their public lifestyle and spending, calling for a reset in public ethics.
Though Gyamfi apologised on May 11, calling it a private gesture never meant for public attention, critics have demanded his dismissal.
Meanwhile, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim confirmed that Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has summoned Gyamfi for questioning, underscoring the administration’s seriousness about the matter.
“Every action, minor or major, is treated seriously,” she said on JoyNews’ AM Show. “This administration’s greatest test will be aligning its actions with its stated values.”
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