Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin is expected to face intense questioning from members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Caucus this morning over allegations of extortion levelled against him by Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi.
Some senior members of the NPP Caucus reportedly consider the allegations serious and are demanding that Mr Afenyo-Markin provide further clarification on the claims.
Mr Gyamfi made the allegations at the seat of the Presidency while responding to concerns raised by the Minority in Parliament, led by Mr Afenyo-Markin, over reported losses involving the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
The GoldBod CEO subsequently repeated the allegations during an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile, challenging the Minority Leader to take legal action against him if he considered the claims defamatory.
Mr Afenyo-Markin has categorically denied the allegations and indicated that he is considering his legal options.
His denial, however, appears not to have brought the matter to a close within the NPP Parliamentary Caucus, with some senior MPs reportedly insisting that the Minority Leader answer questions about the circumstances surrounding the allegations.
The pressure has resulted in a meeting of the NPP Parliamentary Caucus being scheduled for this morning, ahead of Parliament’s sitting later in the afternoon. The meeting is expected to give Mr Afenyo-Markin an opportunity to respond to concerns raised by his colleagues and provide clarity on the matter.
Parliament has been recalled from recess to consider urgent legislative business.
The latest development comes amid an escalating public dispute between Mr Afenyo-Markin and Mr Gyamfi. The personal allegations risk overshadowing the Minority’s substantive concerns about the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, reported losses associated with the programme, and GoldBod’s role in the transactions.
The outcome of the NPP Caucus meeting could therefore have implications not only for Mr Afenyo-Markin’s position within the Minority but also for the broader parliamentary scrutiny of Ghana’s gold purchasing arrangements.
