Accra: Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has denied allegations that he engaged in any wrongdoing in connection with claims made against him by GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi. He stated that assertions of existing video or audio recordings capturing him in acts that could potentially embarrass him, his family, or the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are unfounded.
According to Ghana Web, Afenyo-Markin's lawyers have refuted the false claims regarding the service of a writ on Sammy Gyamfi. He emphasized that the rumors circulating on social media about such recordings are baseless. 'People talking about, they have videos and audio. Some people are playing games on social media. Nobody has any video of me doing anything and I say so on my five points of fellowship. Nobody has any audio of me doing anything to embarrass myself, my family, and the party,' he asserted.
The Effutu MP reiterated his respect for the office of the Minority Leader and the legacy of the NPP, assuring that he would not act irresponsibly. He noted, 'I have discharged my duty as a Minority Leader with all the dignity that must go with the office. I sit on a seat that JB Danquah, JH Mensah, Busia Dombo, Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Paapa Owusu Ankomah sat on. I don't take NPP for granted. It's a tradition I respect,' he expressed at an event.
Afenyo-Markin highlighted the trust placed in him by the party's elders to lead the caucus responsibly. 'From day one, they entrusted me with this position; I have always acknowledged that weight of history to do what is right. I'm not a perfect guy, but I won't be reckless,' he added.
He further explained that the Minority's actions regarding GoldBod are part of its parliamentary oversight duties, not personal attacks. He mentioned that the caucus received a report discussed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which was analyzed by the finance team before deciding on the next steps. 'For want of a better word, we are not accusing anybody. What we are doing is that we are exercising our oversight. We, as a caucus, were served with a report. The IMF, we met them. They handed over a copy of their report to us and the finance guys in the caucus analysed the report and felt that we need to do what we're supposed to do as part of our parliamentary oversight,' he said.
Afenyo-Markin indicated that the matter would follow parliamentary procedures when the House resumes in October. The report is expected to be reviewed by the Business Committee before being tabled for debate, after which the Speaker could establish an ad hoc committee. 'Speaker has admitted it's a matter in the public space. We're on break; there's no rush. We need to follow the procedure. When we resume in October, the Speaker himself once admitted it will come before the business committee; then we table it. Then there will be the debate. Then Speaker will set up the ad hoc committee,' he explained.
He emphasized that the focus is on addressing policy failures and financial losses to the state, not individual personalities. 'We are not dealing with personalities. We are dealing with policy failure; we are dealing with losses we consider the amount of financial loss to the state, and we should delve into it,' he stressed.
Afenyo-Markin concluded that investigating the matter could assist the government in identifying policy weaknesses and implementing necessary reforms. 'I believe that if we are able to do it, it would even help government because in the end, they then would know that these are the weaknesses in the policy they implemented and perhaps reform and do things better,' he concluded.