Ghana's Minority Leader, 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 made this statement at the NPP's National Delegates Conference in Kumasi. The conference is a significant event for the party as it seeks to regroup and strategize for the upcoming elections. Afenyo-Markin's comments reflect the NPP's determination to hold the government accountable.
Afenyo-Markin accused the government of becoming intolerant of criticism, citing the arrests and detention of several opposition figures. 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. The Minority Leader 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.
The Minority Leader assured that the NPP would defend democratic freedoms and demand accountability from President John Mahama and his administration. He emphasized that the party would not be deterred by attempts to silence critics of the government. Afenyo-Markin stated that the NPP's goal is to win back the trust of the people, defend democracy, and hold the government accountable for its actions.
Afenyo-Markin 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. He claimed that the government had not introduced anything new and had only seen through an IMF programme inherited from the NPP. The Minority Leader also criticized the government over various issues, including illegal mining, flooding, school placement, electricity tariffs, road deaths, and drug trafficking.
On illegal mining, Afenyo-Markin claimed that the situation had worsened since the NDC returned to power. He referred to concerns attributed to organised labour and alleged that the government's implementation of the domestic gold purchase programme had resulted in losses exceeding $1.7 billion. The Minority Leader further accused the government of failing to fulfil key campaign promises, including the introduction of a 24-hour economy and one-job-free shifts.
Afenyo-Markin acknowledged the pain of the NPP's 2024 electoral defeat and urged supporters to use the setback to rebuild the party. He emphasized that the party had made progress with its reorganisation and the election of national officers, which he described as preparation for the 2028 elections. The Minority Leader urged defeated aspirants in the national executive elections not to regard their individual losses as a defeat for the party.
The Minority Leader urged party members to return to the grassroots and work to rebuild the party's relationship with voters ahead of 2028. He emphasized that the NPP must remain united behind its presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, while working to regain the confidence of voters. Afenyo-Markin's speech reflects the NPP's determination to regain power in the 2028 general election.
Key points
- The NPP will intensify scrutiny of the Mahama administration.
- Afenyo-Markin accused the government of intolerance of criticism.
- The NPP aims to win back the trust of the people and defend democracy.
