The High Court’s General Jurisdiction 1 has dismissed Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s GH¢15 million defamation suit against Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi, citing fundamental defects in the writ of summons that rendered it incompetent and incapable of properly invoking the court’s jurisdiction.
In its ruling, the court relied on Coleman v Newmont in addressing the applicable procedural rules and Owusu Domena on the need to raise objections at the appropriate time. The decision brings proceedings under the defective writ to an end but does not determine whether the statements at the centre of the dispute were defamatory.
Mr Afenyo-Markin announced the lawsuit in Parliament on August 24, 2026, following allegations of extortion made against him amid a dispute involving GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme. The suit also listed Multimedia Group Limited as a defendant. The Minority Leader has maintained that the allegations were false and intended to tarnish his reputation.
The case also sparked a dispute over the service of the court documents. Mr Gyamfi authorised his lawyers, Ayine & Partners, to accept the writ on his behalf. Mr Afenyo-Markin’s legal team subsequently stated that service had been completed and dismissed suggestions that their client was seeking to evade the process.
