A 2024 presidential hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, says he would have dismissed Sammy Gyamfi “right away” over a viral video showing the acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board handing an undisclosed amount of foreign currency to self-styled evangelist Patricia Oduro Koranteng, popularly known as Nana Agradaa.
Speaking at the 2025 Youthquake Conference at Central University on Thursday, May 15, the former Assin Central MP said the evidence in the video was enough to warrant immediate dismissal.
“If I were the president, I would have fired Sammy Gyamfi right away. Not even a second, because the evidence is clear,” he said in response to a participant’s question on corruption and nepotism.
The video, which sparked widespread backlash, raised concerns about a potential breach of Ghana’s Foreign Exchange Act and the ethical standards expected of public officials.
Mr Gyamfi later apologised and was summoned by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah. President John Mahama accepted the apology and closed the matter with a stern warning.
However, Mr Agyapong argued that leniency in such cases undermines accountability and sets a poor example for the youth.
“Young men and women complete university and do national service, yet many still have to pay or rely on political connections to get good placements. That is wrong. We end up putting square pegs in round holes,” he said.
He described such practices as major barriers to national development and called for urgent reforms.
During his address, Mr Agyapong also outlined seven leadership values he believes are essential: vision, quality, integrity, foresight, humility, focus, and cooperation.
He urged young people to reject shortcuts and embrace discipline, saying Ghana’s future depends on bold, ethical leadership.
The Youthquake Conference, themed “Entrepreneurship and National Leadership”, provided a platform for young Ghanaians to engage national figures on issues of leadership, innovation, and the future of the country.
