Ghana's Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has turned up the heat on the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), urging the party to accept accountability for its actions. He made the remarks in a statement posted on X on Friday, October 30, as the row over GH₵49.72 million spent evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa continues to dominate political debate. Afenyo-Markin argued that the NDC, while in opposition, routinely scrutinised government contracts, challenged appointments, and questioned public expenditure.
The dispute centers on the cost of flying home 1,964 Ghanaians stranded in South Africa, with the Minority alleging discrepancies in payment registers, duplicate entries, and gaps in supporting documents. The opposition has called for an independent audit of the spending and demanded the resignation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, threatening to pursue a vote of censure against him should he refuse to step down. Afenyo-Markin insisted his caucus would not relent in examining government records and spending decisions.
Afenyo-Markin stated that holding public office does not shield officials from criticism, as public office is a public trust rather than a personal possession. He maintained that questioning a contract or demanding transparency is not a personal attack on whoever approved it. The Minority Leader emphasized that the oversight was not opposition for its own sake but a principle that should not depend on which party holds the presidency.
The exchange is the latest flashpoint in a dispute that has run for days, with separate strands of coverage including concerns that 46 Ghanaians remain stranded in South Africa while returnees decry being shamed over the evacuation. A review by journalist Manasseh Azure flagged duplicate names in evacuee records while praising Ablakwa's openness in sharing the documentation.
Afenyo-Markin argued that the NDC cannot treat questions over the evacuation spending as persecution after championing accountability for eight years in opposition. He asked why the party now appeared uncomfortable facing the same treatment, adding that the standards of accountability should not change because the political party in power has changed.
The NDC spent eight years teaching Ghanaians that questioning government was patriotism, but today, the same people appear offended that Ghanaians have taken those lessons seriously. Afenyo-Markin closed his statement by insisting the NDC must be judged by the same yardstick it applied to the Akufo-Addo administration, declaring that the Minority would not back down from demanding answers on the evacuation spending.
The affair has produced significant public debate, with sources including MyJoyOnline and GhanaWeb reporting on the controversy. The Minority's demands for accountability have been met with resistance from the NDC, leading to a renewed debate about the role of opposition in Ghana's democracy.
Key points
- The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has urged the NDC to accept accountability for its actions.
- The dispute centers on GH₵49.72 million spent evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.
- The Minority has called for an independent audit of the spending and demanded the resignation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
