By Iddi Yire
Accra, May 14, GNA-The Presidency has accepted the apology of Mr Sammy Gyamfi, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) over a viral video in which he was sighted handing out dollar notes to Madam Patricia Asieduaa, aka Agradaa.
The Presidency also cautioned Mr Gyamfi and impressed on him to take on board public sentiments and act in ways that reflect public expectation.
This was made known on Wednesday by Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State in-charge of Government Communications during a press briefing at the Presidency in Accra.
Mr Ofosu recalled that in the immediate aftermath of the emergence of the video, Mr Sammy Gyamfi promptly issued an apology in which he expressed regrets over the matter and took on board public concerns raised over the issue.
He said a day after that, Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency summoned Mr Sammy Gyamfi to the Presidency to learn about what transpired.
Mr Ofosu said the invitation was honoured by Mr Sammy Gyamfi and that President John Dramani Mahama upon his return from his foreign trips was briefed on the discussions held between the Chief of Staff and Mr Sammy Gyamfi on the matter.
The Minister said the Presidency acknowledged Mr Sammy Gyamfi’s immediate act of contrition and acknowledgement of the need to express regrets over that incident.
“So that apology has been taken on board. And you do recall that when President Mahama launched the code of conduct, he said that one of the remedies for any potential breach was a public apology,” Mr Ofosu stated.
He said after Mr Sammy Gyamfi’s interaction with the Chief of Staff, the Chief of Staff cautioned him, and having acknowledged the apology he made, he cautioned him and impressed upon him to take on board public sentiments and act in ways that reflect public expectation.
He said the Chief of Staff also took the opportunity to re-issue the same caution that the President had sent to all appointees to be circumspect in their conduct.
“There may be things that may be commonplace in our private lives, but once you become a public official, you need to be sensitive to public expectation, and therefore that ought to guide the way that you order your steps,” Mr Ofosu said.
“So, in view of that, the Presidency does not believe that any further action ought to be taken beyond the apology and the caution.”
He said all Ministers and other appointees of the President were taking a cue from it, and that they were going to do better to meet the expectations of the Ghanaian public.
“We value feedback. We are aware that Ghanaians expect high standards in the performance of our duties as public officials,” Mr Ofosu said.
He said they remained committed to meeting those high standards to ensure that they deliver the best of governance to their people who had been long suffering in the last few years under poor governance.
Mr Ofosu reiterated that Mr Sammy Gyamfi had committed to ensuring that such an incident does not recur.
GNA
GRB