Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin Critiques NDC's Performance and Reveals Deep Ties to Kennedy Agyapong Amid NPP Unity Drive

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has delivered a scathing assessment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s first year in office, asserting that the administration has failed to make a "real impact" on the lives of Ghanaians. Speaking in a series of recent engagements, Afenyo-Markin questioned the absence of significant development projects and highlighted the plight of contractors who remain unpaid despite executing public works through bank loans. He dismissed the government's reliance on positive macroeconomic indicators, arguing that statistics are meaningless if they do not translate into tangible improvements for citizens, such as cocoa farmers and the urban poor. Furthermore, he characterized the proposed 24-hour economy policy as more of a campaign slogan than a viable policy, criticizing the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill as an unnecessary bureaucratic expansion that risks misusing public resources.

Amidst these critiques, the Minority Leader has intensified calls for the resignation of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah. Afenyo-Markin clarified that these demands are rooted in "policy failures"—specifically regarding inconsistencies in a controversial lithium mining agreement—rather than personal animosity. He emphasized that the Minority’s role is to ensure accountability and restore public trust in the management of Ghana's mineral resources. Within Parliament, Afenyo-Markin credited his leadership success to his "backbone" team of whips, praising Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh and deputies Habib Iddrisu and Jerry Ahmed Shaib for their organizational and advocacy strengths. He reiterated a commitment to a "balanced opposition" strategy that maintains rigorous government scrutiny without obstructing essential parliamentary business.

On the internal front of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Afenyo-Markin expressed strong support for flagbearer Mahamudu Bawumia’s post-primary unity drive, urging members to move past internal grievances to focus on the 2028 elections. This call for cohesion was mirrored during strategic meetings between the Minority Caucus and TESCON executives, where student leaders were encouraged to uphold the party's centre-right values. Additionally, Afenyo-Markin made headlines by revealing a deep personal bond with former MP Kennedy Agyapong, disclosing that Agyapong had once provided him with $5 million to revive his business based solely on trust. He attributed Agyapong’s overwhelming success in the Effutu primaries to years of genuine community support in Winneba and announced plans to construct an ICT facility in Agyapong’s honor.

As the political atmosphere intensifies, the government is also navigating sensitive security concerns following a terrorist attack in northern Burkina Faso that claimed the lives of 18 Ghanaian traders. Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has appealed to the public to stop circulating graphic images of the victims to avoid causing further trauma to the grieving families. These converging issues of economic performance, parliamentary accountability, and internal party dynamics set the stage for a high-stakes political season as Ghana moves toward its next major electoral cycle, with the Minority signaling it will remain a vigilant watchdog over both the executive and the nation’s resources.