The High Court’s General Jurisdiction 1 has dismissed Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s GH¢15 million defamation suit against Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi over an incurably defective writ.
The court held that the writ was defective and incompetent, ruling that it could not properly invoke the court’s jurisdiction.
In reaching its decision, the court relied on Coleman v Newmont on the applicable procedural rule and Owusu Domena on the requirement for objections to be raised promptly.
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The ruling brings the proceedings initiated under the defective writ to an end. However, it does not amount to a determination of whether the statements complained of were defamatory.
The court’s decision centred on the procedural validity of the action rather than the substance of the allegations that prompted the lawsuit.
Mr Afenyo-Markin announced the legal action in Parliament on August 24, 2026, saying it followed allegations of extortion made against him amid a dispute involving GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
The Minority Leader maintained that the allegations were false and intended to damage his reputation.
The suit sought GH¢15 million in damages and also named Multimedia Group Limited as a defendant.
The defamation suit formed part of a dispute over allegations that Mr Afenyo-Markin considered injurious to his personal and professional standing.
The case subsequently generated disagreement over the service of the writ on Mr Gyamfi.
Mr Gyamfi authorised his lawyers, Ayine & Partners, to accept the court documents on his behalf.
Mr Afenyo-Markin’s lawyers later maintained that service had been completed and rejected claims that their client was avoiding the legal process.
The disagreement over service formed part of the procedural developments surrounding the case.
With the court now ruling that the writ was incurably defective and incompetent, the proceedings under that writ have been dismissed.
Myjoyonline