Afenyo-Markin sues Sammy Gyamfi over alleged defamatory statements

Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers, a private legal practitioner and policy analyst, has clarified that GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi never accused Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin of personally extorting money from him. The distinction between Gyamfi calling Afenyo-Markin an "extortionist" and alleging extortion is crucial for understanding the ongoing controversy between the two politicians, according to Brako-Powers.

The TV3 interview, conducted on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, emphasizes that describing someone as an "extortionist" can potentially be interpreted as alleging that the person engaged in extortion, either against the speaker or a third party, depending on the context. Brako-Powers expressed his satisfaction that Afenyo-Markin has taken the matter to court, noting that the legal action moves the controversy from political rhetoric to legal accountability.

However, he cautioned that filing a writ does not automatically prove the allegation's truth or falsity, and the Minority Leader must establish the necessary elements to succeed in a defamation case. The potential outcomes of the case, particularly if dismissed, could have significant legal or political consequences, according to Brako-Powers.

He further described the broader controversy as a classic case of the Minority attempting to set the political agenda, particularly through questions surrounding the Bank of Ghana's Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (GDPP). According to Brako-Powers, the Minority's questions about the GDPP have already been addressed in a relevant report, and the current debate should be evaluated against the explanations provided in that report.