Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has backed away from committing to legal action against GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi over allegations he described as defamatory.
The Effutu MP had threatened legal action in a Facebook post on Saturday, August 22, after Mr. Gyamfi allegedly described him as an “extortionist” during an ongoing dispute over the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP).
However, speaking on JoyNews on Sunday, August 23, Afenyo-Markin adopted a more measured position when asked whether he still intended to sue. He declined to confirm his plans, instead invoking the biblical example of Jesus Christ, whom he said 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 said.
Afenyo-Markin said his position as Minority Leader requires him to exercise restraint and avoid allowing political attacks to provoke an emotional response.
He maintained that the accusations against him were intended to divert public attention from questions surrounding reported losses under the DGPP and GoldBod’s involvement in the transactions.
According to the former Majority Leader, political opponents may use personal attacks as a strategy to shift attention away from substantive issues. He said he would not be drawn into what he described as a political “bait.”
The dispute between Afenyo-Markin and Gyamfi stems from the Minority Leader’s calls for greater transparency and accountability over the DGPP. Gyamfi’s alleged remarks prompted the initial threat of legal action.
For now, Afenyo-Markin has not confirmed whether he will pursue the matter in court, choosing instead to focus on what he says are the broader accountability questions surrounding Ghana’s gold purchasing programme.