He Broke No Law, But Sammy Gyamfi Must Be Cautious as a Public Officer – Edem Senanu

Anti-Corruption Campaigner Edem Senanu has weighed in on the much-talked-about Sammy Gyamfi–Agradaa money saga, stating that while no law has been broken, there are legitimate concerns about conduct in public office.

Speaking on Kessben TV’s Maakye show via phone, Mr. Senanu clarified that the situation does not fall under any legal definition of corruption. “Sammy Gyamfi has not breached any law or policy, corruption, extortion, embezzlement, bribery, or fraud,none of them apply in this case,” he stated.

However, Mr. Senanu was quick to point out that the issue lies in the perception and responsibilities that come with public office. “When you’re a private citizen, you can give money to anyone out of goodwill and nobody will ask questions,” he said. “But once you hold public office, like Sammy Gyamfi now does as the Acting Chief Executive of the Ghana Gold Board, every action is subject to public scrutiny.”

He emphasized that Article 11 of Ghana’s Constitution entrusts public officials with power on behalf of the citizens. “So naturally, people will question—‘Is that money from the state or your private income?’ That’s a legitimate concern,” he noted, stressing that while Sammy Gyamfi may have acted out of goodwill, it was an act of indiscretion, not illegality.

Drawing comparisons with the Cecilia Dapaah case, Mr. Senanu highlighted the distinction between large unexplained sums and the $800 Sammy Gyamfi reportedly gave to Agradaa. “Are we saying that a lawyer of Sammy Gyamfi’s standing cannot earn $800? That’s why I say we must be careful not to blow things out of proportion,” he added.

He concluded by saying, “While the President can call for clarity on the source of the money, this situation does not pose a legal breach in my view. But it’s a reminder that once you are in public office, your actions must reflect public accountability.”
By: Gifty Bediako Yamoah