"I won't disgrace a seat once held by J.B. Danquah" – Afenyo-Markin fires back at audio blackmail claims

Minority Leader and MP for Effutu Constituency, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has refuted allegations that he uses his office for extortion, dismissing claims that compromising videos or audio recordings of him could embarrass him, his family, or the party amid the ongoing GoldBod controversy.

Speaking to the media after the Asafo Company from Effutu paid a solidarity visit to him at his residence in Accra, the embattled Minority Leader said he will not disgrace a seat that was once held by some of the party's most respected figures.

"I sit on a seat that J.B. Danquah sat on, that J.H. Mensah sat on, that Busia, Dombo, Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu occupied. I don't take the NPP for granted. It's a traditional respect. The elders of this party did not just get up to say, 'our son, lead the caucus.' From day one, they entrusted me with this position," he said.

He said he has always been conscious of the historical weight attached to the office he occupies, insisting that despite his imperfections, he would not act recklessly while leading the Minority caucus.

"I have always acknowledged that weight of history to do what is right. I'm not a perfect guy, but I won't be reckless. I know what I have to do," he added.

Audio and video blackmail
Mr Afenyo-Markin addressed growing claims on social media that videos or audio recordings exist that could implicate him in wrongdoing tied to the GoldBod controversy, stating emphatically that no such material exists.

"Some people are playing games on social media. Nobody has any video of me doing anything. Nobody has any audio of me doing anything to embarrass myself, my family and the party. There's nothing like that anywhere," he intimated.

He acknowledged, however, that as a public figure, he remains exposed to such attacks and has come to accept it as part of the political machinations.

"It's a social media era. So as a politician, I have to accept some of these things. It will come my way," he said.

GoldBod criticism not personal
The Minority Leader maintained that the ongoing scrutiny of GoldBod's operations by the Minority in Parliament was not targeted at any individual, but rather formed part of the caucus's legitimate oversight responsibility following a report on the state of the country's gold trade by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"We are not accusing anybody. What we are doing is exercising our oversight. We were served with a report, and the finance team in the caucus analysed it and felt we needed to act on it as part of our parliamentary oversight," he stated.

Parliamentary probe
He disclosed that Parliament, upon resumption in October, would formally take up the matter, with the Speaker expected to refer it to the Business Committee before a debate and the eventual setting up of an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the issues raised.

The Minority Leader's comments come at a time when he has faced intense political pressure over allegations linked to GoldBod, with his home constituents in Effutu rallying behind him through solidarity visits such as the one held at his Accra residence.