Afenyo-Markin’s lawsuit against Sammy Gyamfi takes focus away from development – Kpebu

Legal expert Martin Kpebu has expressed concern that the ongoing GH¢15 million defamation lawsuit between Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Ghana Gold Board CEO Sammy Gyamfi detracts from the nation's development priorities. Speaking on JoyFM's Top Story, Mr Kpebu urged the parties to explore mediation as a means to resolve their dispute outside the courtroom, arguing that the legal proceedings could be better utilized to scrutinize government actions and advance national development.

The High Court dismissed Afenyo-Markin's lawsuit on October 14, 2026, ruling that it was procedurally defective and could not properly invoke the court's jurisdiction. Kpebu acknowledged that procedural errors are not uncommon in legal practice, stating that such mistakes are not unusual and are made by lawyers from time to time.

He emphasized the need for the parties to seek an alternative to further litigation, citing the position of Gyamfi's lawyers who encouraged the parties to find a resolution without returning to court.

While Kpebu acknowledged that procedural errors could sometimes be deliberate, he emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest that was the case in this particular dispute. He cautioned against drawing conclusions without evidence and clarified that he was not accusing Afenyo-Markin or his lawyers of intentionally making the error. The ruling ended proceedings based on procedural defects, without determining the substantive merits of the claim.