Afenyo-Markin refiles defamation suits against Sammy Gyamfi, Eric Adjei

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has filed fresh defamation suits against Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi and National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) CEO Eric Adjei following developments in earlier cases involving the two officials.

The new suits were filed at the Accra High Court after an earlier defamation case against Mr Gyamfi was set aside over a defective writ, while a separate case against Mr Adjei was withdrawn at the Achimota Circuit Court before fresh proceedings were initiated.

According to a statement issued by Mr Afenyo-Markin’s counsel, F. Paa Kwesi Abaidoo, on Tuesday, October 20, the suit against Mr Gyamfi, numbered GJ/0045/2027, was filed on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

Mr Abaidoo said the legal team had complied with the High Court’s latest interpretation of the applicable rules, although it disagreed with the decision to set aside the earlier writ.

“Although we disagree with the High Court’s earlier decision setting aside our client’s previous writ, this new writ has been issued against the Defendants in accordance with the Court’s latest Interpretation of the rules,” the statement said.

The dispute with Mr Gyamfi stems from comments made during the Government Accountability Series, following Mr Afenyo-Markin’s criticism of GoldBod and its chief executive over alleged losses of $1.9 billion under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

The High Court last week set aside the Minority Leader’s earlier defamation suit against Mr Gyamfi on grounds that the writ was defective.

Fresh suit against NEIP boss

Meanwhile, Mr Afenyo-Markin has also filed a fresh defamation suit against Mr Adjei at the Accra High Court, hours after withdrawing an earlier case against him at the Achimota Circuit Court.

The new suit, numbered GJ/0061/2027, concerns alleged defamatory statements Mr Adjei made on Peace FM, according to the statement from Mr Afenyo-Markin’s counsel.

The earlier case was withdrawn following engagements between the parties. Counsel for the Minority Leader informed the Achimota Circuit Court of the decision, which was confirmed by Mr Adjei’s lawyer before the presiding judge struck out the case as withdrawn.

Speaking after Tuesday’s proceedings, Mr Adjei’s counsel, Gideon Koku Abotsi, said the withdrawal followed an appeal by the High Court judge for the parties to resolve their differences amicably outside court.

However, Mr Abaidoo stressed that the withdrawal did not amount to an end to the legal action.

“Following the discontinuance of the suit of Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin against Mr Eric Adjei, Chief Executive of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) at the Achimota Circuit Court this morning, a fresh writ, Suit No. GJ/0061/2027, has been filed at the Accra High Court this afternoon on the substantive matter of defamatory statements made by Mr Adjei on Peace FM,” the statement said.

The dispute with Mr Adjei arose after he repeated allegations of extortion against Mr Afenyo-Markin, following the Minority Leader’s criticism of GoldBod and Mr Gyamfi over the gold purchase programme.

The fresh filings indicate that Mr Afenyo-Markin intends to pursue his defamation claims against both officials. The allegations at the centre of the suits have yet to be determined by the courts.