Lawyers for Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin have rejected claims that their client is avoiding service of a defamation writ against Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) CEO, Sammy Gyamfi.
The dispute over service follows an earlier notice by Sammy Gyamfi’s lawyers, Ayine & Partners, that they had their client’s express authority to accept the writ and other court processes on his behalf.
In a letter dated August 26, 2026, the lawyers directed the High Court to serve the processes through their chambers at East Legon in Accra.
However, in a statement issued on Saturday, August 29, Afenyo-Markin’s lawyers, Dehyena Chambers, said the writ was subsequently served on Gyamfi’s lawyers but was returned to the court registry the following day.
The law firm further alleged that when a court bailiff attempted personal service on Sammy Gyamfi at his office on August 27, he refused to accept the writ and instructed security personnel to remove the bailiff.
Dehyena Chambers said the development makes claims that Afenyo-Markin is avoiding service untrue, arguing that it is the court registry, and not the plaintiff, that is responsible for serving the defendant.
“It must be emphasized that it is the Defendant who first authorised his lawyers to accept service of the writ which they complied only for the lawyers to return the process after service had been effected on them. Yet when personal service was attempted on the Defendant, he refused same according to the bailiff” the statement said.
The lawyers also cited Order 7, Rule 12(2) of C.I. 47, which they say makes service valid once a lawyer who has undertaken in writing to accept service receives the writ.
They therefore maintain that Sammy Gyamfi has been duly served and is required to file his appearance and defence in the suit.
“We urge those spreading the contrary narrative to desist. The relevant correspondence and the Bailiff’s official record speak for themselves. Whatever be the situation, once his solicitors accepted the writ, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi is fixed with Knowledge of the writ against him and is required by law to file his appearance and defence to the suit before the Court” the statemnet added.
The legal dispute follows Afenyo-Markin’s decision to sue Sammy Gyamfi over comments in which the GoldBod CEO allegedly described him as an “extortionist” during their escalating public exchanges over GoldBod’s operations and reported losses linked to the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
