Social activist and lead convener of the Democracy Hub pressure group, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has expressed disappointment with the governing National Democratic Congress' (NDC) performance in Parliament. Despite holding a two-thirds majority, Barker-Vormawor described the NDC's achievements as "very underwhelming". The NDC secured 185 seats in the Ninth Parliament, with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) holding 87 seats and four independent MPs caucusing with the NDC.
According to Barker-Vormawor, the NDC's commanding majority has not led to significant programmatic reforms, stronger parliamentary oversight, or effective use of Parliament's powers to address social challenges. He expressed concern that the party's performance has raised questions about the political left's clear programme for governance. The NDC's dominance in Parliament has not translated into tangible benefits for the Ghanaian people.
Barker-Vormawor made these comments in a social media post on Thursday, October 8, 2026. He emphasized that the party's large majority has not produced the desired results, cautioning that the NDC could suffer significant losses in the 2028 parliamentary elections if the situation does not improve. The activist's criticism highlights the challenges facing the NDC as it seeks to consolidate its power.
The NDC's performance in Parliament has been marked by a lack of dramatic change in parliamentary oversight over the executive. Barker-Vormawor noted that the power of Parliament has not been utilised effectively to address social issues facing Ghana. This has led to concerns about the party's ability to deliver on its promises.
Barker-Vormawor attributed part of the situation to the departure of experienced parliamentarians. He noted that some of the "old titans" who contributed significantly to parliamentary debates had either left the House or joined the executive as ministers. This has created a gap in expertise and experience that has impacted the party's performance.
The NDC's majority in Parliament has been a significant factor in Ghana's politics since the December 2024 parliamentary elections. The party's dominance has raised expectations about its ability to drive change and deliver on its campaign promises. However, Barker-Vormawor's comments suggest that the party still has much work to do to meet these expectations.
As the NDC looks to the 2028 parliamentary elections, the party faces a critical challenge in turning its majority into tangible benefits for the Ghanaian people. Barker-Vormawor's criticism serves as a reminder of the need for the party to reassess its strategy and deliver on its promises. The NDC's performance will be closely watched in the coming months and years.
Key points
- The NDC's two-thirds majority in Parliament has not led to significant programmatic reforms or stronger parliamentary oversight.
- Social activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has criticized the NDC's performance in Parliament as "very underwhelming".
- The NDC's dominance in Parliament may not translate into tangible benefits for the Ghanaian people if the party does not improve its performance.
