Upper East Regional Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jonathan Abdulai Salifu, has downplayed the controversy surrounding the dollar gift given by the Acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, to Evangelist Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Nana Agradaa.
His comments follow President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to pardon Gyamfi after he issued a public apology. Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News’ Point Blank on Thursday, May 15, Salifu insisted that the issue lacked merit from the outset and was unlikely to result in any significant consequences.
“To some of us, we knew the matter wasn’t going to go anywhere because there was no substance in it. Not to me alone but to many people,” he said.
Salifu defended Gyamfi’s actions, asserting that the gesture did not contravene any public service rules.
“What did he do? You can go and read the Code of Conduct that was recently launched by the president—from page one to page 63—there is no part of it which says you cannot gift somebody something small,” he stated.
He also rejected claims that the gift was lavish or inappropriate, arguing: “And apart from that, he didn’t do it in an opulent manner.”
Read also
Don’t panic, there’s no looming power crisis – John Jinapor assures