Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has softened his earlier threat to pursue legal action against Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, by Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod). Mr. Markin had indicated in a Facebook post that he would seek legal remedies over what he described as defamatory allegations, including claims portraying him as an ‘extortionist’. However, less than 24 hours later, the Effutu MP adopted a more measured tone when asked whether he would indeed take Mr. Gyamfi to court over the comments.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Probe on Sunday evening, August 23, Mr. Markin declined to commit himself to legal action, instead invoking the biblical example of Jesus Christ, who he said remained silent despite being subjected to accusations. “I have made certain statements. I would rely on them without more. Don’t rush. In the Bible, Jesus was accused; wild allegations. He kept quiet and watched them. He could have done anything,” he said.
He emphasized that he did not intend to be drawn into what he described as a political strategy aimed at distracting attention from the substantive issues surrounding the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP). “So if I would be carried away with emotions, I would fail. It’s not an emotional game. It’s not a game that somebody attacks you, you should also react. No, you won’t get it,” he added. “There is always a bait in politics, and don’t underestimate it. Opponents also have a strategy,” he stated.
Mr. Markin stressed that he did not intend to be drawn into what he described as a political strategy aimed at shifting public attention away from questions over the reported losses associated with the DGPP and GoldBod’s role in the transactions. “As for this game, I want to assure the party that the mandate they gave me, God willing, that mandate will be discharged. We will work hard. The people of Ghana expect us to do nothing less. They expect us as a minority to be forthright, to work hard, to hold the feet of government to the fire, we will do that,” he said.
He acknowledged that political opponents were entitled to criticise him but warned against what he described as excessive and unacceptable language. “You know, we are in a political environment; people are free to oppose or disagree. But what the political environment cannot tolerate is the excesses there too. I have become aware of certain unacceptable language being put out there,” he added.
According to Mr. Markin, he and members of the Minority Caucus had already taken appropriate steps over the comments but would not allow the controversy to derail their scrutiny of the government. “I believe that I’ve taken appropriate steps together with my colleagues in the caucus, and we don’t want to fall into any bait of diversion,” he said.
He insisted that the Minority’s concerns over the DGPP and reported losses associated with it were a matter of national interest rather than a partisan political attack. “This is an important national issue. It is not a partisan call. It is a patriotic call being made by a vigilant minority, however few our numbers,” he said.
Mr. Markin said the Minority would remain focused on its planned parliamentary inquiry into the reported losses under the gold purchase programme. “We want to focus. We promised the people of Ghana that we would file a motion; we have filed that motion. All other things that will come, we will deal with it. Tomorrow we are resuming, we pray that the motion will be admitted. We argue, set up the ad hoc committee so that within the period of break, at least there will be hearing so that by October before we read the 2027 budget,” he said.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin expressed hope that the committee’s work would be completed in time for its findings to inform consideration of the 2027 Budget.
“I hope by that time the report will be ready, and once it is ready, the good people of Ghana will see,” he said.
He also called for the proceedings to be broadcast live to the public. “But I pray for a live broadcast of the hearing. We expect that once the motion is carried, there will be a full public hearing of these GoldBod losses,” he added.
Watch Related Video
Source: MyJoyOnline
