The Accra High Court’s General Jurisdiction 1 has dismissed a GH¢15 million defamation suit filed by Minority Leader Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin against Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi over comments describing him as an “extortionist”.
The court found the writ of summons incurably defective and incompetent, ruling that it could not properly invoke its jurisdiction, reports Myjoyonline.
The news portal noted that in arriving at its decision, the court relied on Coleman v Newmont on the applicable procedural rules and Owusu Domena on the need to raise objections promptly.
The ruling means the action cannot proceed under the defective writ.
However, it does not amount to a determination of whether the GoldBod CEO's comments were defamatory.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin announced the legal action in Parliament on August 24, after Mr Gyamfi described him as an “extortionist” during the August 22 edition of JoyNews’ Newsfile programme.
The comments followed a public dispute between the two over the financial performance of the Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) Domestic Gold Purchase Programme and reported losses associated with the initiative.
The Effutu MP had demanded accountability over a reported US$1.7 billion loss recorded by the BoG in 2025 under the programme, a claim Sammy Gyamfi denied.
In his suit, Osahen Afenyo-Markin maintained that the description was false and defamatory and sought GH¢15 million in damages, alongside a retraction, an apology and an injunction against further publication of the alleged defamatory statements.
The suit filed at the Accra High Court also named Multimedia Group Limited, which operates JoyNews, as a defendant.
Separately, Mr Afenyo-Markin announced another defamation action against Eric Adjei, Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, and Peace FM over similar extortion-related allegations.
Here are four steps outlined by Lands Commission for conducting online land sear...
Appointing NDC’s Emelia Agbenyo to EC part of 'reset' to 'tilt the balance of pa...
14-year-old JHS student dies after allegedly setting herself ablaze at Mpraeso A...
Attorney General proposes independent disciplinary framework for lawyers
Ghana's religious diversity is our most precious possession — Mahama
Assemblies of God to loan 10,000-seater dome to Foreign Affairs for Ghana at 70 ...
Ghana is safer now than before — Mahama
Court dismisses Afenyo-Markin’s GH¢15m defamation suit against Sammy Gyamfi over...
NDC’s Affi Agbenyo appointment seeks to balance EC’s partisan composition – Hamz...
Majority's accusation against Asafo Adjei to divert attention from South Africa ...
Comments
The latest ruling dismissing Afenyo‑Markin's GH¢15 million defamation suit against Sammy Gyamfi is more than a legal outcome; it is a reflection of a deeper political reality in Ghana. Over the years, widespread allegations of corruption, economic mismanagement, and state capture have severely damaged public trust. In contrast, it is troubling that some politicians, despite the gravity of the crimes they have committed, still attempt to use the courts to silence critics. Imagine a ...