President John Dramani Mahama has moved to address and downplay the recent controversy surrounding the "dollar gift" saga involving the acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi.

During a stop at the Old Ghanata Astroturf in Dodowa on Friday, May 16, as part of his ongoing Thank You Tour, President Mahama was seen handing over money to a dancer who performed at the event.

Speaking to supporters shortly afterward, he clarified that the cash gift was in Ghanaian cedis, not U.S. dollars.

"I want to put it on record that the money I gave was GH₵500, not dollars," Mahama stated, responding to questions and comparisons raised by the public following the recent incident involving Gyamfi.

Sammy Gyamfi had come under widespread criticism after he gifted U.S. dollars to Evangelist Patricia Asiama, a former traditional priestess. Many saw the gesture as inappropriate, especially for a public official, and as a reflection of broader concerns about conduct in public service.

Following the backlash, Sammy Gyamfi issued a public apology, acknowledging the lapse in judgment.

President Mahama, while accepting the apology, also issued a word of caution, urging the GoldBod CEO to exercise greater restraint and demonstrate better discretion in the future.