Afenyo-Markin, NEIP CEO Eric Adjei settle defamation suit out of court over extortion claim

The Achimota Circuit Court has struck out a defamation suit filed by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin against the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Eric Adjei, after the plaintiff withdrew the case.

The withdrawal follows engagements between the two parties aimed at resolving their differences over comments by Mr Adjei, who repeated allegations of extortion against the Minority Leader.

The allegations emerged after Mr Afenyo-Markin criticised GoldBod and its Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, over alleged losses of $1.9 billion under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

At the court on Tuesday, October 20, counsel for Mr Afenyo-Markin, led by Paa Kwesi Abaidoo, informed the presiding judge of his client's decision to withdraw the writ following discussions between the parties.

Counsel for Mr Adjei confirmed that the parties had engaged, after which the judge struck out the suit as withdrawn.

Speaking after the proceedings, Mr Adjei's lawyer, Gideon Koku Abotsi, said the decision followed an appeal by a High Court judge for the parties to settle their differences amicably outside the courtroom.

The development comes a week after the High Court struck out a separate defamation suit filed against Mr Gyamfi by Mr Afenyo-Markin on the grounds that the writ was defective.