Dollar gift saga has deepened rift between Mahama loyalists and rivals in NDC – Joshua Zaato
Speaking on Asaase Radio’s The Forum, Zaato argued that the polarized reactions to Gyamfi’s dollar gift to self-styled evangelist Nana Agradaa reveal a power struggle within the NDC, as factions position themselves for future leadership
A Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, has claimed that the recent controversy involving Sammy Gyamfi, Acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (Goldbod), has exposed deepening internal divisions within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking on Asaase Radio’s The Forum, Zaato argued that the polarized reactions to Gyamfi’s dollar gift to self-styled evangelist Nana Agradaa reveal a power struggle within the NDC, as factions position themselves for future leadership.
According to Dr. Zaato, the party’s response to the incident was sharply divided. While some NDC members and government officials rallied to defend Gyamfi, a significant faction remained silent – including key figures linked to Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia, and former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu.
“This issue was not going anywhere because there is a battle going on in the NDC that people haven’t seen. It is the battle of who replaces President Mahama,” Dr. Zaato stated.
He suggested that the loud silence from the Vice President’s camp, Asiedu Nketia, and Haruna Iddrisu was a deliberate attempt to distance themselves from the controversy, positioning themselves as morally upright in the eyes of party members.
“Those who have not come out to support Sammy Gyamfi are those who are in the camp of the Vice President, Asiedu Nketia, and Haruna Iddrisu. None of them has come out because they understand this and want to draw a line between them and this despicable behaviour,” he explained.
Dr. Zaato argued that this internal rift is not just about the Gyamfi incident but is a reflection of a broader struggle for the future of the NDC. With President Mahama expected to exit the political stage in the coming years, factions within the party are already maneuvering for dominance, he noted.
“Sammy Gyamfi’s issue is a symptom of the bigger issue, a leadership battle that is quietly brewing within the NDC,” Dr. Zaato added.
The Sammy Gyamfi controversy erupted after a viral video showed him handing over US dollars to Nana Agradaa, a move that many Ghanaians criticized as ethically questionable.
Although President Mahama cautioned Gyamfi following his apology, the incident has raised questions about accountability and ethics within the NDC government.
Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).
Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand
