Reprimand, don’t remove Sammy Gyamfi – Victoria Hamah urges Mahama

Former Deputy Minister for Communications, Victoria Lakshmi Hamah, has made an appeal. She urged President John Dramani Mahama to formally reprimand Sammy Gyamfi. Gyamfi is the Acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board. This follows his controversial cash donation to evangelist Nana Agradaa.

In her open letter titled “Youth in Power: Embracing Imperfection for a Progressive Democratic Future,” Hamah addressed public concerns about the incident. She believes it should be handled in a way that encourages growth and resilience within the administration.

Hamah praised Mahama’s efforts to promote youth and women in leadership roles. She described this as a historic shift from traditional political power structures.

She referenced Ghana's post-independence era under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Young, inexperienced individuals were once given major responsibilities and shaped transformative policies.

“I respectfully submit that a formal reprimand is more appropriate than dismissal,” Hamah stated.

While she emphasized accountability, Hamah warned against punishing youthful mistakes with immediate exclusion. She framed Gyamfi’s error within a broader narrative of intergenerational leadership.

“Youthful imperfection does not oppose good leadership; it is part of growth,” she noted.

Hamah cautioned that mishandling such incidents could alienate politically engaged youth. It could also undermine trust between Mahama’s administration and young people.

“To support young leaders only during triumphs reinforces a fragile political culture,” she wrote. This culture discourages innovation and suppresses bold leadership.

She concluded by urging the President to use this incident as a learning opportunity. It should reinforce values of mentorship, inclusive governance, and institutional strength.

“Let this moment serve as a reckoning with political maturity that embraces imperfection,” she said.