Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Agribusines, Sampson Ahi, has come to the defense of Sammy Gyamfi, following public criticism over a viral video showing him handing US dollar notes to evangelist Mama Pat also known as Nana Agradaa.
Addressing the issue, Member of Parliament for Bodi and a leading figure in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ahi emphasised that Gyamfi’s action was a personal gesture and did not involve any misuse of state funds.
In an interview with Piesie Okrah on Power FM’s Dwaboase morning show, the minister stated, “Sammy Gyamfi dashed his own money to Agradaa and not state funds.”
“I believe the hardworking young man is yet to receive his first salary.”
Ahi further argued that calls for Gyamfi’s suspension or resignation are unwarranted, noting that the CEO of GOLDBOD has acknowledged the lapse in judgment and expressed remorse.
“He has apologized and shown contrition. We should allow the party’s internal mechanisms to address the matter appropriately,” Ahi added.
The incident has generated public discourse, with various stakeholders calling for appropriate actions to uphold the standards expected of public officeholders.
Minority’s Concerns
At a press conference in Accra on Monday, May 12, 2025, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), represented by MP for Walewale and a member of the Finance Committee Dr Kabiru Tia Mahama, criticised Sammy Gyamfi for openly displaying and giving out U.S. dollars.
The main opposition party described his actions as a clear violation of the recently launched Code of Conduct for Political Appointees and called for his dismissal or suspension as acting CEO of the Ghana GOLDBOD.
But Sampson Ahi, an experienced legislator, has condemned the Minority over the press conference, saying their demands are dead on arrival.
The Minority’s press conference on Sammy Gyamfi is empty. Their act was borne out of sheer hatred,” he noted. “I believe they called the press out of sheer hatred, and I’ll say they are hypocrites.”
He quizzed, “Which politician in this country does not give money to the needy?”
“We [MPs] have been sharing money with our constituents in need all the time. The Minority MPs do the same too, and there’s nothing wrong with that, so I’m surprised our opponents are calling for Sammy Gyamfi’s head when they do the same for people who are always in need.”
Commending Mr Gyamfi for the roles he played as a main spokesperson for the NDC in the run up to the 2024 elections, the MP stated that he [Gyamfi] raised funds on his own to support every constituency with logistics.
“Are they [Minority members] saying that Sammy Gyamfi, who donated 276 motorbikes to the NDC in all the constituencies before the 2024 elections, is not financially strong to support someone with $800?” he questioned in Akan.
Sampson Ahi went on to urge Ghanaians to ignore the Minority and rather focus on the achievements of the new government.
“The new government is doing so well to fix the economy and create jobs for the unemployed youth. Within this short time that we came to power, we have stabilised the cedi and are doing a lot to ensure that the economy is brought back on track. That is what Ghanaians should focus on,” he added.
Watch as Agradaa promises to share church money with Sammy Gyamfi if he’s fired below:
