Minority Leader Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin has said he may not take legal action against Gold Board (GOLDBOD) Chief Executive Sammy Gyamfi over his description of him as an “extortionist”.

Speaking on Joy News’ The Probe, Mr Afenyo-Markin said he was aware of the political strategy behind Mr Gyamfi’s comments and would not allow the allegation to distract him from his responsibility to hold the government accountable.

The Minority has been demanding answers over an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report on a reported $1.7 billion loss associated with GOLDBOD and the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

Mr Afenyo-Markin had suggested that Mr Gyamfi could face burdensome bail terms if he were arrested over the reported loss.

In response, Mr Gyamfi said the prospect of bail terms or jail time existed only in Mr Afenyo-Markin’s imagination before describing the Minority Leader as an “extortionist”.

Mr Afenyo-Markin has denied the allegation but has not disclosed his exact legal course of action. Mr Gyamfi has maintained that the description is factual and said he is prepared to support the allegation.

Mr Afenyo-Markin, however, said he would not allow the comments to provoke an emotional response.

“In the Bible, Jesus was accused. Wild allegations. He kept quiet. He could have done anything, but when you’re dealing with situations, the people of Ghana expect a level of maturity from me. The people of Ghana see this is an accomplished businessman. He’s been in the space for sometime, he’s leading a group. The tradition of the party NPP that I lead expects a certain level of conduct so if I’d be carried away with emotions, I’ll fail. It’s not an emotional game that you should hastily react because someone attacked you,” he said.

He suggested that Mr Gyamfi could be attempting to provoke a reaction from him as part of a broader strategy.

“There’s always a bait in politics. But don’t also underestimate. Opponents always have a strategy,” he said.

Mr Afenyo-Markin said he was familiar with how governments could seek to divert public attention from substantive issues.

“I was a majority leader, I know how government operates. I know how government can divert attention, because the government must hold itself today. I’ve been there [before]. So it can be: ‘Today, let’s throw this in. Today on social media let’s divert attention, let’s stain the man’,” he explained.

He cited the prosecution of current Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in government as an example.

“Like I said, in opposition, was Ato Forson not in court? Was it not worse than my situation?” he said.

Mr Afenyo-Markin assured the NPP that he remained focused on his mandate and would continue to scrutinise the government.

“We’ll work hard [as] the people of Ghana expect us to do nothing less. They expect us as Minority to be forthright, to work hard, to hold the feet of government to the fire. We’ll do that. All other things that will come, we’ll deal with it.”