Afenyo-Markin Softens Threat to Sue Sammy Gyamfi Over ‘Extortionist’ Allegation

Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has softened his earlier threat to take legal action against Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, over allegations he considers defamatory.

The Effutu Member of Parliament had threatened to pursue legal remedies after Mr Gyamfi allegedly described him as an “extortionist” amid an escalating public dispute over the operations of GoldBod and losses reportedly associated with the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP).

However, barely a day after making the threat, Afenyo-Markin adopted a more measured position, declining to confirm whether he would proceed with a lawsuit.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, August 22, 2026, the Minority Leader indicated that he was prepared to seek legal redress over what he described as defamatory comments directed at him.

But when asked about the matter during an interview on JoyNews on Sunday, August 23, he stopped short of confirming that legal proceedings would be initiated.

Instead, Afenyo-Markin invoked the biblical account of Jesus Christ, who, according to him, remained silent when faced with accusations.

“I have made certain statements. I would rely on them without more. Don’t rush. In the Bible, Jesus was accused; wild allegations. He kept quiet and watched them. He could have done anything,” he said.

The Minority Leader said his position required him to exercise restraint rather than respond emotionally to attacks.

Afenyo-Markin stressed that his position as Minority Leader comes with expectations of maturity and responsibility.

He said he was conscious of the political environment and would not allow provocative comments to dictate his response.

“So if I would be carried away with emotions, I would fail. It’s not an emotional game. It’s not a game that somebody attacks you, you should also react. No, you won’t get it,” he said.

He further warned that political opponents could deliberately provoke individuals as part of a broader strategy.

“There is always a bait in politics, and don’t underestimate it. Opponents also have a strategy,” he added.

Despite the personal exchanges, Afenyo-Markin maintained that the substantive issue remained the reported losses associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme and GoldBod's role in the transactions.

He suggested that the attacks against him were intended to divert public attention from questions surrounding the programme.

According to the Minority Leader, his experience in government had taught him that political actors could sometimes deploy controversy to shift attention away from difficult issues.

“I was a Majority Leader. I know how government operates. I know how government can divert attention,” he stated.

He argued that attempts to portray him negatively would not prevent him from pursuing questions about the financial implications of the gold purchase programme.

The development comes amid an increasingly heated exchange between Afenyo-Markin and Sammy Gyamfi over GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana's Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

Afenyo-Markin has repeatedly demanded greater transparency over reported losses and questioned the structure of the transactions involving the central bank and GoldBod.

His concerns have included questions about how the programme is funded, how risks are allocated between state institutions and how losses incurred through the programme are accounted for.

Gyamfi has pushed back against the Minority Leader's criticisms, with the alleged description of Afenyo-Markin as an “extortionist” triggering the former's threat of legal action.

The Minority Leader has described the alleged remark as defamatory.

For now, however, Afenyo-Markin appears to have left the door open on whether he will pursue the matter in court.

Rather than confirming legal action, he has chosen to emphasise restraint and focus attention on what he considers the larger financial and accountability questions surrounding GoldBod and the DGPP.

His latest comments suggest that the political battle may continue primarily around the operations of GoldBod and the reported losses, rather than escalating immediately into a courtroom confrontation over the alleged defamatory statement.

The dispute is therefore likely to remain a major political talking point as Parliament prepares to scrutinise the activities and financial implications of the government's gold purchasing arrangements.