Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers, a legal practitioner, has called on the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, to consider stepping aside to focus on clearing his name over the extortion allegation levelled against him.
He says leading the Minority with such an allegation hanging around his neck affects how Ghanaians will perceive any claim pushed out by the caucus.
Sharing his views on the BigIssue segment on TV3’s NewDay on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Brako-Powers said he is happy the Minority Leader has taken the matter to court but must recalibrate his position.
“I’m just thinking about how Ghanaians will perceive the Minority. I’m happy that the Minority Leader has taken the case to court. I will pray that the Minority would recalibrate its position, and if possible, the Minority Leader should consider stepping aside to exhaust the legal action so as to clear himself. I think that will be a good option for him,” he stated.
According to him, the trial is going to take some time, and the perception of the public about the Minority within that period is critical, advising that Afenyo-Markin steps aside until the matter is resolved.
“This is not going to be a day’s journey so I’m thinking about how people will perceive the Minority going forward. They’re being led by somebody who is being accused of this. I’m suggesting that he should step aside, let them get somebody to lead the Minority so that they can have a front that Ghanaians will respect,” he added.
His comment follows a suit filed by Afenyo-Markin against the Chief Executive of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, for labelling him an extortionist.
The Effutu lawmaker made announcement of the suit in Parliament on Monday, August 24.
“Mr Speaker, in the face of the allegations of extortion leveled against me, I have chosen, I have chosen to take high moral ground by submitting myself to the processes of the law. I have accordingly caused writs to be filed in suit number GT 1029/2026, entitled Osahene Alexander Ofenyo-Markin versus Samuel Adu Gyamfi and Multimedia Group Limited, at the Accra High Court, in suit number GR/ACH/CC/C5/02/2026, titled Osahene Alexander Ofenyo-Markin versus Eric Adjei and Peace FM, Achimota Circuit Court,” he announced.
According to him, “he has every confidence that in the fullness of time, the court will make the appropriate determination on these matters.”
The Minority Leader further urged his accusers to report the matter to the law enforcement agencies.
“Mr. Speaker, I also await with bated breath that the man or the men who made the allegation will have the courage to report the matter to the police or the OSP or any investigating agency in this country and I expect that if they must have the courage to report that I have extorted from them and I am invited, I shall submit myself to every investigation so that eventually my name is cleared,” he stated.
“There is, Mr. Speaker, there is a limit to political discourse. There are lines that must not be crossed and these red lines, once crossed, they must be dealt with,” Afenyo-Markin warned.
READ FULL WRIT OF SUMMONS ( OSAHENE ALEXANDER AFENYO-MARKIN here.
The suit comes a day after Afenyo-Markin gave the indication that he will not pursue legal action. While on JoyNews on Sunday, August 23, the Effutu lawmaker declined to commit to legal action and instead invoked the biblical example of Jesus Christ, who chose to remain silent when accused.
“I have made certain statements. I would rely on them without more. Don’t rush. In the Bible, Jesus was accused; wild allegations. He kept quiet and watched them. He could have done anything,” he said.
According to the MP, much is expected of him in the position he occupies, and he will not allow emotions to get the better of him in such times.
“But you see, when you are dealing with situations, the people of Ghana expect a certain level of maturity from me. The people of Ghana see that this is an accomplished businessman. He’s been in the space for some time. He’s leading a group. The tradition of the party NPP that I lead expects a certain level of conduct,” he noted.
He reiterated what he said in his Facebook post earlier—that the attacks were meant to divert attention from the real issues surrounding the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP), a ploy he said he would not fall for.
“So, if I would be carried away with emotions, I would fail. It’s not an emotional game. It’s not a game that somebody attacks you, you should also react. No, you won’t get it,” he said.
However, he made a u-turn on Monday, suing Sammy Gyamfi and two other media houses.
Background
The development follows a war of words between Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi over the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP).
Afenyo-Markin has raised concerns about reported losses under the DGPP and questioned GoldBod’s role in the transactions, calling for transparency and accountability.
Gyamfi, in response, allegedly described the Minority Leader as an “extortionist”—a comment the Effutu MP said was defamatory.
He threatened legal action in a Facebook post but softened his stance afterwards, declining to commit to a lawsuit. He had indicated that the attacks were a bait to divert attention from the substantive issues, invoking Jesus Christ, whom he said remained silent despite numerous allegations levelled against him.
Extortion allegation against Afenyo-Markin impugns criminality – Brako-Powers
