Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has dragged Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi and Multimedia Group Limited to the High Court, demanding GH¢15 million in damages over an allegation that he is an “extortionist”.
The suit, filed at the Accra High Court, follows a bitter public confrontation between the two politicians that began with the Minority Leader’s demands for accountability over reported losses under the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP) and has since degenerated into a highly charged political and media battle.
Afenyo-Markin is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as an order compelling the defendants to issue a full and unequivocal retraction and public apology for the alleged defamatory remarks.
He is also asking the court to order that any retraction and apology be given substantially the same prominence and reach as the original publication, including on JoyNews and the social media platforms through which the remarks were disseminated.
The Minority Leader is further seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Gyamfi, Multimedia Group and persons acting on their behalf from repeating the alleged defamatory words or statements having substantially the same meaning.
The trigger
The legal action stems from the August 22 edition of JoyNews’ Newsfile, during which Gyamfi, while responding to questions about the controversy surrounding GoldBod and Afenyo-Markin’s criticism of its operations, described the Effutu MP as an “extortionist”.
According to Afenyo-Markin’s statement of claim, Gyamfi did not merely use the word in passing but insisted that he stood by the description and challenged the Minority Leader to sue him if he disagreed.
The writ quotes Gyamfi as saying that he had never used the word “extortion” against any of his political critics before and questioned why Afenyo-Markin had not challenged him or threatened legal action.
Gyamfi is also alleged to have told the programme host, lawyer and journalist Samson Lardy Anyenini, to represent Afenyo-Markin and sue him so he could substantiate his claim.
The GoldBod CEO reportedly maintained that his statement was not an insult but was based on “what has happened” and that Afenyo-Markin knew what he was talking about.
Afenyo-Markin has now taken up that challenge in court.
From GoldBod scrutiny to personal attacks
The feud erupted after Afenyo-Markin, at a Minority press conference on August 18, questioned GoldBod’s financial and operational performance and cited an IMF report which he said showed a US$1.7 billion loss under the DGPP in 2025.
Gyamfi hit back the following day at the government’s Accountability Series, rejecting the suggestion that GoldBod had recorded such a loss.
He said GoldBod’s audited 2025 financial statements showed an operational surplus of GH¢907 million and an overall profit of more than GH¢5.4 billion. He also accused Afenyo-Markin and his supporters of deliberately ignoring the Auditor-General’s findings.
Afenyo-Markin, however, maintained that the GoldBod CEO had not disproved the reported US$1.7 billion loss under the DGPP but was merely disputing which state institution should bear responsibility for it.
He argued that, irrespective of whether the loss was attributed to GoldBod or the Bank of Ghana, it remained public money and therefore demanded accountability.
The disagreement subsequently became increasingly personal, with both sides accusing the other of misleading the public and diverting attention from the substantive financial questions.
Afenyo-Markin has characterised his scrutiny as the discharge of Parliament’s constitutional oversight responsibility, while Gyamfi has described the Minority’s campaign against GoldBod as politically motivated.
Afenyo-Markin denies extortion
In his statement of claim, Afenyo-Markin categorically denies the allegation that he is an extortionist or has ever engaged in extortion.
He argues that the allegation creates the impression that he uses his position and political influence to mount improper pressure on public institutions and officials, engage in secret negotiations for improper purposes and abuse the authority associated with his office.
He further contends that the allegation is particularly damaging because he is a lawyer, a senior political figure and the Minority Leader of Parliament.
The suit claims that the publication has exposed him to “hatred, ridicule, contempt and public disapprobation” and has damaged his character, professional standing and public image.
Afenyo-Markin also accuses Gyamfi of malicious publication, arguing that he deliberately used the word “extortionist” in response to his criticism of GoldBod and repeated the allegation even after the programme host questioned him about it.
Multimedia also sued
Multimedia Group Limited, the operator of JoyNews, has been joined to the action as the second defendant.
Afenyo-Markin argues that the alleged defamatory remarks were broadcast on Newsfile and subsequently circulated widely on social media, including X, Facebook and YouTube.
He further claims that Multimedia, despite being aware of the nature of the remarks, allowed Gyamfi to continue making them instead of stopping the broadcast or deactivating his microphone.
The court is therefore being asked to hold the defendants jointly and severally liable.
The writ marks a sharp escalation in a confrontation that began as a dispute over public finances and parliamentary accountability but has now entered the courtroom as a battle over reputation, political conduct and alleged defamation.
It also represents a reversal of Afenyo-Markin’s earlier position that he would not sue Gyamfi over the “extortionist” allegation. After Gyamfi publicly challenged him to take the matter to court, the Minority Leader said he would pursue legal remedies to clear his name.
The court is now being asked to determine whether the allegation was defamatory and whether Afenyo-Markin is entitled to the reliefs and GH¢15 million compensation he is demanding.
Source: www.kumasimaul.com
