Afenyo-Markin Sues Sammy Gyamfi Over Alleged Defamatory Remarks

A political dispute between Parliament’s Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi has taken a dramatic turn, with the Effutu Member of Parliament heading to court over comments he says are false and damaging to his reputation.

Afenyo-Markin disclosed the legal action on Monday, August 24, as Parliament resumed sitting following its recall for emergency parliamentary business.

The development comes after weeks of increasingly heated exchanges between the two men over GoldBod, the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP) and a reported US$1.7 billion loss recorded under the programme in 2025.

The dispute intensified after Sammy Gyamfi described Afenyo-Markin as an “extortionist” while responding to the Minority Leader’s demands for greater accountability over the reported loss.

Afenyo-Markin has rejected the allegation and has now chosen the courts to address the matter.

Afenyo-Markin Takes the Matter to Court

According to Afenyo-Markin, two separate legal actions have been filed.

The first, Suit No. GT/1029/2026, is titled Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin v. Samuel Adu Gyamfi and Multimedia Group Limited and was filed at the Accra High Court.

The second, Suit No. GR/ACH/CC/C5/02/2026, is titled Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin v. Eric Adjei and Peace FM and was filed at the Achimota Circuit Court.

The Minority Leader said the cases followed allegations made against him in connection with his scrutiny of GoldBod and the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

Rather than continue the confrontation through public exchanges, Afenyo-Markin said he had decided to allow the legal process to determine the matter.

He also expressed confidence that the courts would eventually make the appropriate determination based on the evidence and the law.

How the GoldBod Dispute Started

The legal battle is the latest development in a wider disagreement over the financial performance of the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme and GoldBod’s role in the scheme.

Afenyo-Markin has been demanding answers over the reported US$1.7 billion loss and has questioned various aspects of the programme.

Sammy Gyamfi, however, has strongly challenged the Minority Leader’s claims and rejected suggestions that GoldBod itself incurred the reported loss.

Global Pulse GH previously examined the disagreement in GoldBod Dispute Deepens as Sammy Gyamfi Rejects $1.7bn Loss Claim, where Gyamfi's position on the reported figures and GoldBod's financial performance was discussed.

That earlier dispute has now provided the background to the latest legal confrontation.

A Wider GoldBod Funding Debate

The disagreement is also connected to broader questions about GoldBod’s operations and access to funding.

The pressure on the institution has attracted attention from gold buyers and other stakeholders, with Global Pulse GH previously reporting on GoldBod Funding Crisis: Ghana’s Gold Buyers Face Up to 3-Week Delays.

The issue demonstrates why the debate surrounding GoldBod has moved beyond political accusations.

Questions about financing, gold purchases, reported losses and the institution’s broader operations have all become part of the public conversation.

Afenyo-Markin’s criticism has therefore been presented by the Minority as part of Parliament’s oversight responsibility, while GoldBod has continued to defend its operations.

Afenyo-Markin Had Already Challenged the Allegations

The latest lawsuit did not come entirely out of the blue.

Before announcing the legal action, Afenyo-Markin had publicly challenged those making the extortion allegations to report the matter to the appropriate investigative authorities.

In an earlier Global Pulse GH report, Afenyo-Markin Challenges Sammy Gyamfi: “I’m Ready to Be Investigated”, the Minority Leader said he was prepared to submit himself to an investigation if a formal complaint was made.

That position has now been followed by actual legal action.

The development shifts the dispute from political exchanges and media discussions towards formal legal proceedings.

Parliament Is Also Part of the Story

The controversy has unfolded alongside parliamentary attempts to scrutinise the reported GoldBod losses.

Afenyo-Markin and the Minority have been pushing for greater accountability over the figures associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

Parliament’s handling of the issue has itself generated controversy.

Global Pulse GH previously reported that Parliament Returns: Bagbin Blocks Immediate Debate on GoldBod Losses Motion as the House dealt with the GoldBod-related motion.

That parliamentary development is important because the dispute is not solely a personal disagreement between Afenyo-Markin and Sammy Gyamfi.

It has also become part of a broader political argument over public accountability and the management of Ghana’s gold purchasing arrangements.

GH¢15 Million Damages Claim

The defamation action reportedly includes a claim for GH¢15 million in damages, together with demands for an apology and retraction of the statements at the centre of the dispute.

The legal proceedings will provide both sides with an opportunity to present their respective positions.

For Afenyo-Markin, the case is about protecting his reputation and challenging what he considers false allegations.

For Sammy Gyamfi, the proceedings will provide an opportunity to defend the statements attributed to him.

At this stage, the allegations against Afenyo-Markin remain allegations and have not been established as fact by a court.

The same applies to the claims contained in the defamation suits, which will have to be determined through the judicial process.

OSP Also Assessing Extortion Allegations

The controversy has taken another turn with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) assessing petitions concerning the extortion allegations made against Afenyo-Markin.

The OSP is expected to determine whether the allegations fall within its statutory mandate and whether further action is warranted.

This creates two separate processes surrounding the same political controversy.

The first is Afenyo-Markin’s defamation action against Sammy Gyamfi and others.

The second concerns the extortion allegations and whether they warrant investigation by the appropriate state authorities.

The two matters should not be confused.

The existence of an allegation or petition does not by itself establish wrongdoing.

NPP Backs Its Minority Leader

The New Patriotic Party has also rejected the extortion allegation against its Minority Leader.

NPP Deputy General Secretary Haruna Mohammed has described the allegation as unconvincing and maintained that the party's focus remains on the financial questions surrounding GoldBod and the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

The NPP's position means the controversy is likely to remain politically significant even as the legal proceedings begin.

For the opposition party, the GoldBod controversy remains an accountability issue that requires answers.

What Happens Next?

The coming weeks could determine how far the confrontation goes.

The courts will have to consider Afenyo-Markin’s defamation claims, while the OSP will assess the separate petitions concerning the extortion allegations.

At the same time, Parliament’s scrutiny of the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme is likely to continue.

The legal action therefore does not bring the wider GoldBod debate to an end.

Instead, the controversy has entered a new phase in which political arguments, parliamentary oversight and legal proceedings are unfolding at the same time.

What started as a disagreement over GoldBod and reported financial losses has now developed into a legal battle between two prominent figures in Ghana’s political landscape.

For Afenyo-Markin, the message is clear: he wants the allegations against him tested through the law.

For Sammy Gyamfi, the coming legal proceedings will provide an opportunity to defend his position.

Global Pulse GH will continue to monitor the case and bring readers verified updates as the situation develops.

What Do You Think?

Should the Afenyo-Markin–Sammy Gyamfi dispute now be left to the courts, or should Parliament continue investigating the wider GoldBod controversy?

Share your views in the comments.