1. Public offices comes with a heightened level of expectations. Once one assumes a significant public role, there is a legitimate expectation of modesty, restraint, wisdom and sensitivity to public perception. It is therefore understandable that Ghanaians would question the optics surrounding the lavish funeral of Sammy Gyamfi's father-in-law, especially given his current position as Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod and of course his history of critiquing almost everything when his party was in opposition.
2. Having said that, the more important question is whether Sammy himself is the real issue here. For me, what stood out from the funeral was not merely the scale of the event, but the parade of influential personalities from politics, business, religion, entertainment and other sectors who showed up in force. Their presence raises a deeper question of whether same level of attention would have been accorded if Sammy occupied no public office?
3.The answer points us to a broader national challenge. In societies where institutions are reduced to personalities and access is often valued more than merit, influential individuals naturally gravitate towards those who wield power. Such relationships may be presented as goodwill, but they often carry expectations of future access, demands and receiprocating advantage.
4. The real concern, therefore, is not how opulent the funeral display was; it could have even been sponsored by just one businessman. Th real concern should therefore be about the political and economic culture we have built fo ourselves in which power attracts patronage, and patronage seeks returns.
5. Until Ghana strengthens its institutions beyond personalities, deepens meritocracy and transparency, similar controversies will continue to emerge regardless of who occupies public office.
6. My name is Kwasi kwarteng and I am a lawyer from Asante Akyem Domeabra.
@SammyGyamfi_
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