Former President John Dramani Mahama has addressed concerns surrounding a cash gift he made during his ‘Thank You Tour’ stop at the Old Ghanata Astroturf in Dodowa, following public scrutiny over a separate dollar gift incident involving the acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi.
During the event on Friday, May 16, Mahama was seen giving money to a dancer who performed on stage. However, in light of recent controversy surrounding Sammy Gyamfi’s dollar gift to evangelist Patricia Asiama, Mahama quickly clarified the nature of his own gesture.
“I want to make it clear that the money I handed over was GH₵500, not U.S. dollars,” Mahama stated, addressing his supporters at the event.
The remark comes amid ongoing debate sparked by Gyamfi’s decision to gift U.S. dollars during a public appearance, which many criticized as inappropriate given his position. Gyamfi later issued an apology, acknowledging the backlash, and Mahama publicly accepted his apology while advising him to exercise better judgment in similar situations in the future.
Mahama’s clarification appeared to be a preemptive move to dispel any potential misconceptions and to separate his gesture from the recent dollar gift saga. By emphasizing the use of local currency, the former president aimed to distance himself from the criticism directed at Gyamfi.
In the wake of these incidents, Mahama’s response has been interpreted as a demonstration of accountability and an effort to maintain transparency in his public interactions.
