Veteran journalist and Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has described Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s defamation writ against Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi and media organisations as “very strange”, warning that the legal action carries significant risks for the Effutu Member of Parliament.
“You’ve taken somebody to court for defamation who you claim was defending your image and saying that the allegations against you have not been proven. Master, I don’t understand. It’s difficult.
“But I think I’d better stop here before I get into trouble. I don’t want to get into trouble. So I will stop here. But it’s very strange. Very strange writ,” he stated.
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Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Pratt noted that the escalating accusations and counter-accusations had reached a point where the Minority Leader had sued for defamation.
“So what I’ll say at this moment is that the move initiated by the Minority Leader can cut both ways. If the courts hold that he has been defamed and take measures to repair the damage done to him, maybe it will be positive.
“On the other hand, if the court does not rule for him, he’s finished. He’s destroyed forever. And he may not even be in a position to continue functioning as Minority Leader. His credibility would have been shattered completely,” Pratt stated.
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Pratt added that Afenyo-Markin, himself a lawyer, was fully aware of the risks when he initiated the action, while emphasising that Gyamfi, the “primary accuser”, had remained firm and confident, repeatedly daring the Minority Leader to proceed to court.
“But be that as it may, he knew the risk he was taking when he went to court. You know, and he’s a lawyer. I’m not the one to tell him whether he should have taken that risk or not.
“I note, on the other hand, that his accuser is very firm and confident. I’ve heard him in several discussions, and he says, ‘I dare him to go to court.’ What does he have that you don’t know and I don’t even want to know? It’s for the court to know,” he added.
Pratt further claimed that he had reviewed the court documents and found a particularly instructive element.
According to him, he noticed that Afenyo-Markin was not only suing Sammy Gyamfi but also media platforms, including those under the Multimedia Group Limited, associated with Joy and Peace FM.
“I’ve read the petition before the courts… And there’s something which is most instructive. The Minority Leader goes to court and says, ‘I’m not just suing Sammy Gyamfi. I’m also suing Joy and Peace FM.’
“And then, in his own writ, he says that the Joy presenter actually challenged Sammy and disassociated the station from the statement that Sammy Gyamfi was making,” Pratt asserted.
“So why sue Joy? What is the trick? I don’t know. It’s maybe my illiteracy in law, which is killing me. But I can’t understand.”
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He further questioned the decision to pursue a party he claimed was defending his image.
The legal action stems from a heated public dispute between Afenyo-Markin and Gyamfi over the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP) and reported losses estimated at about US$1.7 billion (or GH¢22 billion) in 2025, linked to operations involving GoldBod.
Afenyo-Markin had called for greater accountability and transparency regarding the programme’s performance.
During an appearance on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, August 22, 2026, Gyamfi described the Minority Leader as an “extortionist” in response to the criticisms.
Gyamfi subsequently challenged Afenyo-Markin to sue him, asserting that he could substantiate the claim.
On Monday, August 24, 2026, when Parliament reconvened for an emergency sitting at the request of President John Dramani Mahama, Afenyo-Markin announced that he had filed two separate suits.
One, Suit No. GT/1029/2026, is against Samuel Adu Gyamfi and Multimedia Group Limited at the Accra High Court.
The other, Suit No. GR/ACH/CC/C5/02/2026, is against Eric Adjei, Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, and Peace FM at the Achimota Circuit Court.
Afenyo-Markin has denied the extortion allegations, stating that he has never engaged in such conduct.
He is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages for libel, with some reports indicating a claim of about GH¢15 million, as well as orders for a full and unconditional retraction and public apology, among other reliefs.
He has also indicated his readiness to submit to any formal investigation by the police, the Office of the Special Prosecutor or other relevant agencies to clear his name.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has confirmed receiving petitions related to the dispute and is assessing whether the matter falls within its mandate.
The cases remain before the courts.
Watch his remarks below.
VKB/MA
Afenyo-Markin drags Sammy Gyamfi to court over 'extortionist' claim
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