Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has declared that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will confront the Mahama administration without fear of arrest or intimidation as it seeks to reclaim power in the 2028 general election.
He said the NPP would intensify its scrutiny of the government, defend democratic freedoms and demand accountability from President John Mahama and his administration.
Addressing the NPP’s National Delegates Conference which is currently underway in Kumasi , Mr Afenyo-Markin said the party would not be deterred by what he described as attempts to silence critics of the government.
“We must live with one purpose to win back the trust of the people, defend our democracy with all the vigour, hold the government accountable and push it without fear of arrest or intimidation to deliver on the promises it made to the Ghanaian people,” he said.
The Minority Leader accused the government of becoming intolerant of criticism and cited the arrests and detention of several opposition figures as evidence.
He mentioned Chairman Wuntumi, Kwame Asare-Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, Dennis Miracle Aboagye, Camilla Alhassan, Baba Armando and Salomey Awity among persons he said had been arrested or detained.
Mr Afenyo-Markin also referred to the case involving the Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, who he said was targeted for arrest at a courthouse after appearing as counsel in a bail application.
“We assure you all that we will defend our freedoms, insist on equal justice and pursue accountability through lawful democratic means,” he said.
“We, the mighty Minority, shall never be intimidated in Parliament. We will fight for you today, tomorrow, until we get victory 2028. We ask for one law for all.”
Attacks government
Mr Afenyo-Markin also launched a broad attack on the performance of the Mahama administration, accusing it of taking credit for economic improvements inherited from the previous NPP government.
“They have not introduced anything new. They inherited an IMF programme and only saw it through to the end. Low inflation, low interest rates, stable cedi and wonderful macroeconomic statistics they boast of were all inherited,” he said.
He criticised the government over illegal mining, flooding, school placement, electricity tariffs, road deaths and drug trafficking.
On illegal mining, he claimed the situation had worsened since the NDC returned to power and referred to concerns attributed to organised labour.
He also alleged that the government’s implementation of the domestic gold purchase programme had resulted in losses exceeding $1.7 billion, which he attributed to the International Monetary Fund.
That claim was made by Mr Afenyo-Markin at the conference and was not independently established in his address.
He further accused the government of failing to fulfil key campaign promises.
“No 24-hour economy. No one-job-free shifts. High electricity tariffs. They sell gold and make losses,” he said.
NPP rebuilding
Mr Afenyo-Markin acknowledged the pain of the NPP’s 2024 electoral defeat and urged supporters to use the setback to rebuild the party.
“After our painful defeat in 2024, some of you carried that wound home. You fought it at the market, in your church, in your mosque,” he said.
He said the party had nevertheless made progress with its reorganisation and the election of national officers, describing the process as preparation for the 2028 elections.
He urged defeated aspirants in the national executive elections not to regard their individual losses as a defeat for the party.
“When the ballots are counted and applause fades, nobody must leave this venue believing that personal defeat today is a defeat for either themselves or the NPP,” he said.
The Minority Leader said the NPP must remain united behind its presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, while working to regain the confidence of voters.
“Over the last 18 months in opposition, we have drawn encouragement from the many things we did right and recognised where we need to do significantly better,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin urged party members to return to the grassroots and work to rebuild the party’s relationship with voters ahead of 2028.
“Let us stop looking backwards. Let us stop looking sideways. Let us look ahead to the day in 2028 when the people of Ghana line up in the sun, in the rain, and in their millions and say, enough of NDC government’s incompetence,” he said.
