Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has described himself as a moderate politician who is committed to ending the cycle of political excesses and institutional overreach that have tainted Ghana’s democratic journey.
He remarked on a courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, by the United Kingdom’s Minister for International Development, Rt. Hon. Baroness Chapman, on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Afenyo-Markin admitted that past governments, including under his watch, had sometimes allowed partisan hardliners and state institutions to go unchecked, creating needless tension in the political space.
“I am a moderate politician. I believe that the excesses, where the hard-liners take centre stage when a government comes to office, must be a thing of the past. I must admit that some of these excesses happened in my time. But we cannot continue with the vicious cycle of ‘you do me, I do you,” he said.
The Minority Leader expressed concern about recent incidents of heavy-handedness in law enforcement and the administration of justice, citing the treatment of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bono regional chairman.
“Just yesterday, I saw one of my regional chairmen, for just an act of misdemeanour, being handcuffed and pushed into a Black Maria. These are things that we don’t need; they only blot our democracy,” he stressed.
He urged state institutions to avoid excesses and apply the law humanely and fairly, especially when dealing with political figures and ordinary citizens.
“We don’t need the excesses of institutions, where government has a big responsibility for accounting to people. If you are investigating someone, you don’t just slap excessive bail conditions – asking for fifty thousand or property – before releasing the person,” he cautioned.
Touching on the recent removal of the Chief Justice, Afenyo-Markin said the Minority viewed it as politically motivated rather than a genuine effort at accountability.
He maintained that governments should avoid witch-hunting when introducing reforms or pursuing accountability, adding that politics should not overshadow fairness in Ghana’s democracy.
“Of course, we had been in office for eight years. We expect that a new government coming in with its reset policy will not use investigations purely for politics, but to strengthen democratic accountability,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin pledged that under his leadership, the Minority in Parliament would provide constructive opposition while ensuring the governing majority is held accountable.
“I want to assure you that we will be constructive in opposition. The Majority will take decisions, but I will have my say,” he affirmed.
He also appealed for collective responsibility to bring sanity to Parliament, describing it as a family institution where cooperation across the aisle is vital.
“We are children of this House, and it is our responsibility to support its leadership to bring sanity to the chamber,” he emphasised.
The Minority leader assured Ghanaians that his leadership would be guided by moderation, dialogue, and a commitment to nation-building, while pressing for justice and accountability without political vendetta.
