Chief Executive Officer of Youth Employment Agency, Malik Basintale
The Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency, Malik Basintale, has jumped to the defense of the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, following public backlash over his recent gifting of cash in dollar denominations to controversial former fetish priestess, Nana Agradaa.
Speaking on TV3’s New Day on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Basintale, who also deputises Sammy Gyamfi in his dual role as the National Communications Officer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), reacted to the attempted criminalisation of the possession of dollars by the critics of his boss.
According to him, the existence of forex exchange businesses in the country would be unnecessary if such assertions about the possession of dollars were true.
“The reason why it is not a crime to possess dollars in this country is because we even have forex bureaus, and the forex bureaus that are registered under the laws of this country permit you to buy and sell dollars. So, if it is a crime, then the forex bureaus should be turned into chop bars because it means that, simply, they are not fit to establish the fact that you go in and buy dollars,” he stated.
Among other things, he added that the reported invitation of the Gold Board CEO by the Chief of Staff in relation to the incident does not pronounce guilt on Sammy Gyamfi in any form.
“This is even the Chief of Staff; the Supreme Court can even invite you, but if you go to the Supreme Court, it doesn’t simply mean you are guilty,” he stated.
A viral video showing Sammy Gyamfi handing US dollar notes to Evangelist Patricia Oduro, known as Nana Agradaa, sparked public outrage and political backlash.
Critics, including the Minority in Parliament, have condemned the act as a breach of conduct, citing violations of Ghana’s Currency Act and Code of Conduct for public officials, and demanded his suspension and an investigation into the source of the funds.
Meanwhile, Sammy Gyamfi has apologised for the incident, describing the gesture as a private act of kindness.
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b>Watch as Agradaa promises to share church money with Sammy Gyamfi if he’s fired