In a bold letter titled “Youth in Power: Embracing Imperfection for a Progressive Democratic Future,” former Deputy Minister for Communications and NDC stalwart Victoria Lakshmi Hamah appeals to President John Dramani Mahama to correct, not cancel, Sammy Gyamfi after his controversial cash donation to Nana Agradaa.
Here’s what her message teaches:
1. Don’t cancel — correct
Hamah urges Mahama to consider a formal reprimand instead of dismissal. For her, accountability must allow space for growth, especially for young leaders learning on the job.
2. Leadership isn’t perfection, it’s growth
“Youthful imperfection is not antithetical to good leadership,” Hamah asserts. She views mistakes as essential milestones on the journey to excellence.
3. History favors the bold and the young
Referencing Ghana’s early post-independence era, she highlights how young, inexperienced leaders under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah helped shape groundbreaking national policies.
4. Mahama’s legacy of empowerment deserves protection
She commends Mahama for advancing women and youth in leadership and cautions that swift punishment could undermine the very legacy he is building.
5. Protect the political energy of the next generation
Hamah warns that punishing young leaders too harshly could discourage innovation, leaving politically engaged youth disillusioned.
6. Turn crisis into a teachable moment
Rather than abandon Gyamfi, she encourages Mahama to use the incident as a moment to reinforce mentorship, resilience, and inclusive governance.
“Let this moment serve not as a rupture, but as a reckoning with the kind of political maturity that welcomes imperfection as part of the journey toward excellence.”
