I won’t be the first Minority Leader to suffer attacks – Afenyo-Markin

Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has announced his readiness to withstand political attacks and challenges that come with his position. Speaking on JoyNews’ The Probe, the Effutu MP acknowledged the weight of the role when he accepted the leadership of the Minority Caucus. He emphasized that he won't be the first Minority Leader to face such challenges and remains committed to fulfilling the mandate entrusted to him.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin noted that political pressure and legal issues are not uncommon for opposition leaders, using the example of the current Majority Leader and former Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who faced criminal proceedings while in office. He also pointed to examples from other jurisdictions where minority leaders have been arrested and required to report to investigative agencies.

The Minority Leader's remarks come after a disagreement with GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi, who accused Afenyo-Markin of making false claims about the company. Afenyo-Markin initially threatened legal action over the defamatory allegations but later chose a more measured response, citing Jesus' response to wild allegations in the Bible. He urged Ghanaians to expect maturity from him and assured that personal attacks would not distract him from his responsibilities.

The Minority Leader reiterated that the focus remains on concerns over the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP) and the reported losses associated with it. He emphasized that the Minority's stance is about national interest rather than a partisan campaign against the government. The Minority Leader expressed readiness to face any challenges that come with his position, relying on his faith and party support.

He also called for a live broadcast of the planned parliamentary hearing into the reported GoldBod losses.