Seasoned journalist Fiifi Pratt has waded into the heated public discourse surrounding the viral video of Sammy Gyamfi handing dollars to evangelist Nana Agradaa, describing it as a test case for President John Mahama’s ethical standards in governance.
Speaking during a segment on Good Morning Ghana, Fiifi Pratt said this was his “very first public comment on the matter” and underscored the weight of the controversy, calling it “a matter with many dimensions.”
Pratt praised Gyamfi as a charismatic and strategic communicator within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), noting, “There’s no doubt at all that Sammy Gyamfi is a darling boy of the sitting president… and a very eloquent, efficient communicator.”
However, he pointed out that the scandal has sharply divided both major political parties, with contrasting views emerging even within the same camps.
“The New Patriotic Party is split; some say he’s done nothing wrong, others are demanding suspension and investigation. The same is happening within the NDC,” he observed.
What makes this case critical, according to Fiifi Pratt, is the symbolic weight it carries for Mahama’s presidency.
“Everybody has his or her eyes on President John Dramani Mahama and the Chief of Staff. What they do will define the code of conduct of this government, now and in the future,” he stressed, warning that mishandling the matter could lead to perceptions of a “clearing agent” presidency.
While acknowledging Gyamfi’s apology over the incident, Pratt expressed concern about how his allies have attempted to defend him in public, calling some of their responses “pedestrian” and “stupid.”
He condemned suggestions that Agradaa is a needy woman and described the claim that Gyamfi “has always been rich” as unhelpful and aggravating.
“If he has any means to advise those friends to stop making those defenses, it will be in his interest,” he said.
Pratt emphasized that Gyamfi’s value to the NDC is undeniable, having played a key role in the party’s resurgence. Yet, he urged President Mahama and his Chief of Staff Julius Debrah to weigh all considerations—ethical and political—before concluding the matter.
“You’ve just launched a code of ethics a week ago… how does all of this sit in that scenario?” he asked, noting the heavy burden now placed on Debrah to navigate the fallout.
