When kindness is treated like a crime and met with the irony of public persecution, one cannot help but to wonder if generosity is still a virtue or a risk that may one day make us regret doing good.
It is disheartening that while genuine donors often have to arrange and even pay for media coverage when supporting charitable causes, others feel compelled to secretly record acts of kindness with malice aforethought, not to uplift, but to scandalise. This is indeed shameful and unpatriotic.
In the age of smartphones and split-second judgments, even a private act of kindness can be weaponized into a public scandal. Such is the fate that has befallen one of Ghana’s finest gentlemen, Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi, the Chief Executive of Goldbod, whose recent encounter with a well-known Ghanaian personality has ignited a media storm and public uproar.
A short video now circulating on social media shows Mr. Sammy Gyamfi handing out what appears to be dollar notes from his vehicle to a familiar face in Ghana’s entertainment circles after a hearty hug and chat when he met this personality. The footage sensationalized, and stripped of context has since sparked calls for Sammy Gyamfi’s dismissal, with critics questioning the integrity of a man long known for his firm stance against corruption, indiscretion and waste is today being perceived as an apology.
But behind the viral clip lies a far simpler and perhaps more forgivable reality. The facts, according to close sources, are that after crossing paths at a public event, Nana Agradaa persistently appealed to Mr. Sammy Gyamfi for financial assistance for her vehicle. With no cameras in sight, and no desire to make any public spectacle of any support, Mr. Gyamfi, acting on impulse and goodwill entered his private car and, mindful of the discretion expected of a public officer, quietly reached for a few notes to help her.
In a moment that should have remained private, it was she who, while receiving the gesture, ostensibly extended her hand unlawfully to take more than was offered. That act was captured and deliberately circulated, sparking a wave of public outrage since May 12, 2025. With absolutely no elaborate plan, no grandstanding and ostentatious display, just a simple act of assistance to a fellow Ghanaian has today landed Mr.
Gyamfi in the crosshairs of national condemnation, with mounting pressure on the President of the Republic to dismiss him. So the biggest question that must be asked: Yes, in hindsight, the setting and mode of delivering the compassion might be impulsive and maybe ill-advised. But do we now live in a country where one kind act probably, poorly timed though, must eclipse decades of sacrifice, service, and loyalty? I am sure you agree with me that the answer is a big No.
This is the same Sammy Gyamfi who, just a few months ago, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the ranks and files of the National Democratic Congress, especially the President in the heat of the most fiercely contested election campaign in recent memory, risking safety, and comfort to help secure a victory when the stakes were at their highest. And today, that patriot stands not in the halls of applause, but on the proverbial chopping block, if not already in the slaughterhouse of public opinion for a single act of generosity, probably done at the wrong time and place.
And what is his offence, if I may ask? He offered private assistance to a fellow Ghanaian who approached him, not with fanfare, not in public showmanship but discreetly, from his private vehicle. That moment of kindness was secretly filmed and twisted into a spectacle, circulated widely across media platforms, overshadowing the heart behind the gesture.
So, the real question is: who ought to be investigated and held accountable? The man who gave quietly out of compassion, or the one who recorded and leaked it with mischief and malice?
Today, Mr. Gyamfi stands before the leadership of government, his conduct under scrutiny. But may we remember that what is being examined is not just a man’s action but a nation’s conscience.
The model offered by Pontius Pilate in John 18:38 remains profoundly relevant today. After interrogating Jesus, Pilate quickly realized that He had committed no crime worthy of death. Indeed, he declared, “I find no fault in this man.” Despite the mounting public pressure, Pilate recognised the goodness in Christ, His mission to heal, redeem, restore, and uplift and initially chose justice over noise and washed his hands off Jesus’ prosecution.
Mr. President, as the nation awaits your ‘verdict’, may history remember you as the Pontius Pilate who defied the pressure from the people. May you be the leader who, after weighing the facts and the character of the man before you, declares boldly and without fear: “I find no fault in what he has done.”
Mr Sammy Gyamfi’s critics point to contradiction but character is rarely black and white. Can a man who has consistently stood against indiscretion not also make a human error? Can a leader who has inspired millions of Ghanaian youth, championed life-changing programmes, and upheld integrity in public service not falter in a fleeting moment of well-meaning generosity?. He is not infallible!
Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, as composed and respectful as he is, has already expressed remorse following public reaction, particularly from those who, though acknowledging his good intentions, felt the act was unbecoming of a public officer.
This is not a defence of optics. It is a call for perspective. A plea that we look beyond a single moment and judge the man in full, his values, service, and his readiness to take responsibility when it matters most.
Mr. President, if we succumb to public opinion to judge a man not by any evidence of corruption or abuse of office, but solely by a 30-second video, we risk cultivating a culture that punishes humanity and rewards hypocrisy. Mr. Sammy Gyamfi has since taken time to reflect deeply on the incident.
He remains genuinely remorseful, fully aware that his spontaneous act, though rooted in kindness, may have been misinterpreted and caused unintended embarrassment. Yet, in his humility and accountability, he has demonstrated the very leadership qualities we must not be too quick to discard.
But before we pass the gavel of permanent judgment, let us remember the many untold videos. The ones that will never trend. The jobs secured. The school fees paid. The communities visited. The battles fought behind closed doors to preserve the integrity of state institutions.
This article is not a call for silence. Since the video went viral, Mr Sammy Gyamfi has not called on anyone to shut up. He has accepted acting beyond some limits. It is rather a call for balance. A moment of reflection in a time when outrage too often drowns truth.
After all, if even the righteous can fall, let us not bury those who rise again with humility and renewed strength. Mr. President, the strides under Mr Gyamfi’s leadership are clear and visible and you will have no regret in appointing him as part of your team tasked with delivering your bold vision of a transformed Ghana and resetting our institutions to reflect compassion, service, and integrity.
To many of us, what Mr. Sammy Gyamfi did is not a scandal but a reflection of a heart inclined toward generosity. It shows that when blessed with more, he is likely to give more just as other well-meaning Ghanaians like Mr. Osei Kwame Despite have done for Ghana, including building police stations and supporting countless national causes.
Meanwhile, the lessons from what has been shared by way of public opinions the past few hours are clear and loud to all. But we should not relent on compassion because of optics. We can only assess our environment thoroughly in our quest to meet the needs of others, remembering that by serving as public officers, we limit the full enjoyment of the freedom available to us.
For those of us who sternly are crucifying this single act of kindness of Sammy Gyamfi, maybe pause and reflect over the many big gifts you equally gave to others in the dark, at that inconspicuous arena. I am sure you remember now?. Magnanimity is required at this point!
(Assemblyman Oduro, Asuogyaman)
