Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has sued the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, and Multimedia Group Limited for GH¢15 million over an alleged defamatory description of him as an “extortionist.”
The defamation suit, filed at the Accra High Court, follows a growing public dispute between Afenyo-Markin and Gyamfi over GoldBod’s operations and reported losses associated with the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
Afenyo-Markin is seeking damages, a public apology and retraction of the alleged defamatory statements, as well as an injunction restraining the defendants from repeating the allegations.
The suit concerns comments allegedly made by Sammy Gyamfi during the August 22, 2026 edition of JoyNews’ Newsfile programme.
According to the statement of claim, Gyamfi described Afenyo-Markin as an “extortionist” while responding to questions about the Minority Leader’s criticisms of GoldBod and reported losses under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
Afenyo-Markin argues that the statement was defamatory and created the impression that he habitually engages in extortion, improperly uses his political influence to pressure public institutions and abuses the authority associated with his position.
He has denied the allegation and is asking the court to determine the matter.
Among the reliefs being sought are general, aggravated and exemplary damages for libel, with the plaintiff demanding GH¢15 million in compensation.
He is also seeking an order compelling the defendants to issue a full, unconditional and unequivocal retraction of the alleged defamatory statements and publish an apology with substantially the same prominence and reach as the original publication.
The Minority Leader is further seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from repeating the alleged defamatory claims, together with legal costs and any other relief the court considers appropriate.
The lawsuit is the latest development in an increasingly heated political and financial dispute between Afenyo-Markin and the GoldBod CEO.
On August 18, Afenyo-Markin raised concerns about GoldBod’s operations and cited a reported US$1.7 billion loss associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
Gyamfi subsequently rejected the Minority Leader’s criticisms and defended GoldBod’s financial performance.
He referred to GoldBod’s audited 2025 financial statements, which, according to the claims cited in the dispute, recorded an operational surplus of GH¢907 million.
The disagreement has since escalated, with the two sides exchanging strong accusations over the interpretation of GoldBod’s financial position and the reported losses.
Multimedia Group Limited, the operator of JoyNews and Joy FM, has also been named as a defendant in the case.
Afenyo-Markin alleges that the media organisation facilitated the publication and distribution of the comments through its broadcast and online platforms.
He further claims that recordings of the programme were subsequently circulated on social media platforms, including X, Facebook and YouTube, thereby amplifying the alleged damage to his reputation.
In his statement of claim, Afenyo-Markin categorically denies being an extortionist or ever engaging in extortion.
He argues that the allegation is particularly damaging to his reputation given his professional and political standing as a lawyer, a fourth-term Member of Parliament and a former Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.
The Minority Leader further alleges that the statement was made maliciously and that the use of the term “extortionist” was deliberate.
He also contends that the allegation was repeated even after the programme host questioned Gyamfi about the statement.
The allegations form part of Afenyo-Markin’s case and have not yet been determined by the court.
Afenyo-Markin announced the legal action when Parliament resumed on Monday, August 24, 2026, for its emergency sitting.
Expressing confidence in the judicial process, he said: “I have every confidence that in the fullness of time the court will make the appropriate determination.”
The case will now proceed through the judicial process, where both parties will have the opportunity to present their respective positions and evidence before the court.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
