Accra:Private legal practitioner Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers has urged Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to cease his defamation lawsuit against Ghana Gold Board CEO Sammy Gyamfi. This advice follows the High Court's decision to strike out the case.
According to Ghana Web, Brako-Powers, speaking on GBC's Current Agenda, suggested that the lawsuit was a strategic trap that Afenyo-Markin should have avoided. He advised the Minority Leader to allow the matter to rest.
Brako-Powers emphasized that Afenyo-Markin should have been more cautious before pursuing legal action, hinting that the situation might have been designed to provoke a court battle. Although the judge could have considered other options, the court accepted the objection from Gyamfi's attorneys, focusing purely on procedural grounds without addressing the substantive allegations between the parties.
The legal battle stemmed from comments made by Gyamfi on JoyNews' Newsfile program on August 22, 2026, where he labeled Afenyo-Markin as an "extortionist" during discussions related to the Bank of Ghana's Domestic Gold Purchase Programme. In response, Afenyo-Markin filed a GHS15 million defamation suit against Gyamfi and Multimedia Group Limited.
On October 14, 2026, the Accra High Court dismissed the suit, citing non-compliance with procedural requirements under Order 57 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004. The court noted insufficient details in the writ to identify the complained statements, and an attempt to correct this through amendment was also rejected.
Despite the procedural ruling, Afenyo-Markin's legal team plans to continue pursuing the matter. However, Brako-Powers has advised against prolonging the dispute, warning that it might lead to further political controversy and suggesting that both parties consider their positions to prevent political pressure from influencing legal decisions.