Afenyo-Markin Backs Away From Legal Threat Over Defamation

Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has declined to confirm whether he will pursue legal action against GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi over allegations he says are defamatory, choosing instead to remain focused on parliamentary scrutiny of reported losses linked to the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP). Mr Afenyo-Markin had earlier threatened to seek legal remedies over statements attributed to Mr Gyamfi, including allegations that portrayed him as an “extortionist”. However, appearing on JoyNews’ The Probe on Sunday, August 23, the Effutu Member of Parliament adopted a more restrained position when asked whether he would take the GoldBod chief executive to court.

Rather than committing himself to litigation, Mr Afenyo-Markin invoked the biblical account of Jesus Christ, saying he had faced accusations without responding in kind. “In the Bible, Jesus was accused; wild allegations. He kept quiet and watched them. He could have done anything.” He said his position as Minority Leader required him to exercise restraint and avoid allowing personal emotions to determine his response to political attacks. According to him, the controversy should not be allowed to obscure what he considers the more important national questions surrounding the gold purchase programme and GoldBod’s involvement in the transactions. Mr Afenyo-Markin argued that political opponents could deliberately provoke their targets as part of a broader strategy to divert public attention from substantive issues. “There is always a bait in politics, and don’t underestimate it. Opponents also have a strategy,” he said. He added that his experience in government had taught him how political actors could seek to redirect public debate when faced with difficult questions.

“I was a majority leader. I know how government operates. I know how government can divert attention,” he said, suggesting that the attacks against him could be intended to shift attention away from questions over reported losses associated with the DGPP. Mr Afenyo-Markin said the controversy would not derail the Minority Caucus from pursuing its demand for parliamentary scrutiny of the reported losses. He confirmed that the Minority had filed a motion seeking an inquiry and expressed hope that Parliament would admit it when the House resumes. “We promised the people of Ghana that we would file a motion; we have filed that motion,” he said. The Minority Leader said the issue was not merely partisan, describing the demand for an investigation as a matter of national interest. “This is an important national issue. It is not a partisan call. It is a patriotic call being made by a vigilant minority,” he said.

He indicated that, should the motion be approved, an ad hoc committee could be established to investigate the transactions and conduct public hearings during the parliamentary break. Mr Afenyo-Markin also called for the proceedings to be broadcast live, saying the Ghanaian public should have direct access to the committee’s examination of the GoldBod-related losses. He expressed the hope that the committee could complete its work before consideration of the 2027 Budget, allowing its findings to contribute to the wider national discussion on the programme. “I hope by that time the report will be ready, and once it is ready, the good people of Ghana will see,” he said. The Effutu MP also sought to place the controversy within the wider pressures associated with opposition politics. He cited the experience of current Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, who faced criminal proceedings while serving as Minority Leader under the previous administration. “In opposition, like I said, was Ato Forson not in court? Was his not worse than my situation?” Mr Afenyo-Markin asked.

He said such experiences demonstrated that political office holders, particularly opposition leaders, could face intense scrutiny and pressure while carrying out their responsibilities. “I won’t be the first minority leader to suffer attacks,” he said. Mr Afenyo-Markin maintained that he remained prepared to withstand criticism and other pressures that could arise from his decision to aggressively scrutinise the government. He said he was conscious of the weight of the position he accepted and would continue to rely on his faith and the support of the NPP to discharge the mandate entrusted to him. “The very day I took this job, I knew the weight of it. Everything is on me. I’m ready to live up to the task,” he said. While acknowledging that political actors were entitled to disagree and criticise one another, Mr Afenyo-Markin said there should be limits to the language used in political discourse. He said he had become aware of what he described as “unacceptable language” directed at him but maintained that he and members of the Minority Caucus had taken appropriate steps to address the matter.

He nevertheless cautioned against allowing the dispute to become a distraction. Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Minority would continue to “hold the feet of government to the fire” and remain focused on issues it considers important to the Ghanaian public. The latest comments represent a significant moderation of his earlier stance on the controversy with Mr Gyamfi. Rather than announcing a court action, the Minority Leader has now emphasised restraint and shifted attention towards Parliament, where he hopes the proposed inquiry into the reported GoldBod losses will receive approval and proceed to public hearings. For Mr Afenyo-Markin, the immediate test is therefore not the personal dispute but whether Parliament will admit the Minority’s motion and establish a mechanism capable of examining the gold transactions in full public view.

By: Joyce Owusu