The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, has paid a glowing tribute to the Justices of Ghana’s Supreme Court for what he described as their courage, restraint and fidelity to constitutionalism, saying their recent rulings have reaffirmed the supremacy of the ballot and restored public confidence in democratic governance.
Delivering a wide-ranging address at the first sitting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament in Accra yesterday, Osahen Afenyo-Markin said the apex court’s decision to reinstate Mathew Nyindam, Member of Parliament for Kpandai, marked a decisive triumph of democracy over partisanship and judicial haste.
“This is not merely a personal victory. It is a resounding affirmation that no judicial fiat can override the sovereign will of the Ghanaian voter,” he said.
He praised the Supreme Court judges for standing firm “without fear or favour” amid what he alleged were political pressures, warning Parliament to learn lessons on institutional restraint, especially in matters involving elected representatives and the judiciary.
Parliament Reconvenes Amid National Hardship
Setting the tone for the new session, the Minority Leader said Parliament was reconvening at a time of “uncommon challenges”, with Ghanaians struggling for jobs, food security and dignity, while the country’s international standing weakens.
“At home, our people struggle for employment and dignity. Abroad, Ghana’s voice has grown faint,” he said, accusing the government of eroding trust with traditional international partners.
Tribute and Party Unity
Osahen Afenyo-Markin began his address by paying tribute to the late Mahama Toure Naser, MP for Ayawaso East, describing his death as a deep wound to Parliament and urging MPs to take better care of their health and one another.
He also announced the New Patriotic Party’s readiness for 2028, following the election of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as its flagbearer, calling for unity within the party and describing Dr. Bawumia as a leader of competence, integrity and vision.
“The contest is over. The collaboration begins,” he declared, urging NPP MPs to act as a government-in-waiting.
Economy, Jobs and the Cost of Living
On the economy, the Minority Leader accused the government of failing to manage Ghana’s recovery with transformation in mind.
He said unemployment, particularly among the youth, remains dire, citing the tragic El-Wak Stadium recruitment stampede, which claimed the lives of six young women.
“When a recruitment gate becomes a graveyard, it is not the youth who have failed the state; it is the state that has failed its youth,” he said, describing the government’s 24-hour economy policy as “bogus.”
He highlighted contradictions in the agricultural sector, where farmers suffer post-harvest losses while urban households battle rising food prices.
“When food rot in the village while children sleep hungry in the city, the problem is not rainfall or soil—it is policy failure,” he stated, blaming poor logistics, storage and market access.
Transport and Urban Planning
On transport, Osahen Afenyo-Markin said poor planning continues to drain productivity and dignity from working Ghanaians.
“The commuter stuck in traffic for three hours is not just late—she is poorer in income, health and hope,” he noted.
The Minority Leader condemned what he described as executive indifference following the continued absence of substantive ministers at the Defence Ministry and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, months after a fatal helicopter crash that claimed two cabinet ministers.
“To leave these ministries in perpetual acting leadership is a dereliction of duty,” he said, demanding immediate nominations.
Foreign Policy and US Visa Restrictions
On foreign affairs, he described Ghana’s reported inclusion in a US immigrant visa suspension list as a diplomatic failure, blaming erratic signalling and what he termed “domestic theatre” in foreign policy.
“When diplomacy becomes performance, ordinary Ghanaians become collateral damage,” he warned, particularly as youth resort to irregular migration.
The Minority Leader also condemned rising attacks on journalists, including assaults by security personnel, describing such acts as direct attacks on democracy.
“A state that cannot protect the pen will soon be unable to protect the ballot,” he cautioned.
Accountability Agenda
On accountability, the Minority Leader announced that the Minority Caucus would pursue targeted parliamentary inquiries into several critical national issues, including the helicopter crash that claimed eight lives, the El-Wak Stadium recruitment tragedy, reported losses under the government’s gold programmes, rising violence against journalists, alleged abuse of the bail system, Ghana’s inclusion on the United States immigrant visa suspension list and the unlawful dismissal of public sector workers.
He stressed that Parliament must move beyond rhetoric, insisting that “accountability without a calendar is mere public relations.”
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
