Date: August 24, 2026
By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi/ Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
Allegations of extortion levelled against Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin by Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) CEO Sammy Gyamfi are expected to feature prominently at a meeting of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Caucus today, ahead of Parliament’s recall from recess.
The caucus meeting, scheduled for Monday morning, is primarily intended to prepare NPP Members of Parliament for the reopening of Parliament. However, senior MPs within the caucus say the allegations have become too serious to ignore and are likely to be raised under “other matters.”
The controversy follows a week of escalating exchanges between Mr Gyamfi and Mr Afenyo-Markin over alleged losses linked to the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, during which the GoldBod CEO publicly accused the Minority Leader of extortion.
Sammy Gyamfi’s allegation
The dispute began after Mr Gyamfi held a press conference responding to the Minority’s criticism of GoldBod’s operations and the reported losses associated with Ghana’s domestic gold purchasing programme.
During the briefing and in subsequent media appearances, Mr Gyamfi repeatedly alleged that Afenyo-Markin had engaged in extortion, insisting that the allegations were true and challenging the Minority Leader to pursue legal action if he believed they were defamatory.
His remarks quickly intensified the political standoff, shifting attention from the policy debate over GoldBod to the personal allegations between the two public officials.
NPP MPs want answers
According to reports from within the NPP Parliamentary Caucus, some senior MPs believe the allegations could damage both the reputation of their leader and the image of the party if left unanswered.
A member of the caucus reportedly told Pledge Against Corruption that colleagues consider the accusations “very serious” and expect Mr Afenyo-Markin to address them before the caucus.
The MP added that while the main agenda of the meeting concerns parliamentary business, the extortion allegations are expected to emerge during discussions.
Afenyo-Markin rejects ‘summoned’ reports
Despite widespread reports suggesting he had been summoned by his own MPs, Mr Afenyo-Markin has firmly denied that claim.
In a statement posted on social media Monday morning, the Minority Leader described the reports as false and misleading, insisting that he—not the caucus—called the meeting.
“Your report that I have been summoned is untrue. On the contrary, ahead of the reconvening of Parliament, I have summoned my colleagues for our Caucus meeting, as is routinely done ahead of every Meeting of Parliament, to strategise and coordinate our parliamentary business,” he stated.
He emphasised that the gathering is a routine caucus meeting held before every parliamentary sitting and should not be portrayed as disciplinary action against him.
Parliament returns from recess
Today’s meeting comes as Parliament reconvenes to consider urgent legislative business following its recall from recess.
The GoldBod controversy is expected to remain high on the Minority’s agenda, particularly after Mr Gyamfi challenged Afenyo-Markin to invite him before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to defend GoldBod’s record.
The growing dispute has now evolved beyond questions about Ghana’s gold programme into a broader political confrontation involving allegations of extortion, demands for accountability and the possibility of legal action.
Legal action still on the table
Mr Afenyo-Markin has consistently denied the extortion allegations and has previously indicated that he intends to pursue the appropriate legal remedies against Mr Gyamfi over what he describes as defamatory statements.
While he has not yet filed a lawsuit, his supporters argue that the allegations threaten his reputation and should be challenged in court.
For now, attention shifts to the NPP caucus meeting, where colleagues are expected to discuss both parliamentary strategy and the controversy surrounding their leader.
Whether the meeting results in a united party position or further internal pressure on Mr Afenyo-Markin remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the GoldBod dispute continues to dominate Ghana’s political landscape as Parliament resumes its work
