My defamation suit against Sammy Gyamfi still pending in court – Afenyo-Markin

The minority leader of Ghana's National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alexander Afenyo-Markin, is facing a defamation lawsuit over allegations that he made defamatory comments about the CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (Goldbod), Sammy Gyamfi. According to Afenyo-Markin, the court case is currently on hold, awaiting a hearing date as both sides have submitted their motions and opposition to the court.

He stated that he does not believe in using back-channel discussions once someone crosses a clear boundary, emphasizing that if someone disrespects another by disgraceful statements on TV or radio, they have crossed a red line. The minority leader's decision to pursue the matter through the courts was also influenced by comments challenging him to produce evidence, as well as his concern about hate speech.

Afenyo-Markin, as an opposition leader, asserted that his position does not allow him to make unsubstantiated statements against the government, and his language must be measured and based on strong evidence. The main issue in the lawsuit is Goldbod's loss, which Afenyo-Markin claims is not a partisan allegation but is supported by findings from international financial institutions like the IMF and the World Bank.

The IMF's report stated that Goldbod's dealings resulted in losses, while the World Bank warned of weak control mechanisms in Goldbod's transactions.