Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the Mahama administration of abusing power and undermining constitutional governance, describing the situation as dangerous to Ghana’s democracy.
He said that Ghana’s democracy is “under attack from within” and insisted that the Minority Caucus will resist what it describes as constitutional abuse, institutional intimidation, and economic mismanagement.
Addressing the House at the closing of the Third Meeting of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Afenyo-Markin said the Minority was not merely marking the end of a session but confronting what he called a defining national moment.
“We do not gather merely to conclude a meeting or session, but… to confront a truth,” he declared. “In our view, our country is in danger. Our democracy is under attack from within.”
Enough is enough
The Minority Leader said public frustration had reached a breaking point, accusing the Executive of sidelining Parliament and weakening state institutions.
“Our people are tired,” he said. “Tired of watching their Constitution treated as a suggestion… tired of a Parliament that sometimes forgets it speaks for the people, not for the Executive.”
From the Minority benches, he insisted, silence was no longer an option. “To stay quiet now would be a betrayal of the people we serve. It would be a betrayal of Ghana,” he added.
Preventable tragedies and accountability
Afenyo-Markin devoted a significant portion of his speech to what he described as government indifference to human life, citing recent national tragedies.
He referenced the deaths of six young women during a military recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium, calling the incident “a death trap” that could have been avoided.
“A recruitment exercise—something that should have been routine—became a death trap,” he said. “The tragedy was preventable.”
Despite the loss of lives, he lamented the absence of sanctions. “Still, not a single official has been held accountable. Not one person has resigned,” he stressed.
He also recalled the Obuasi military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight people, including two cabinet ministers.
“Again, no accountability. Again, families left to grieve while officials move on,” he said.
Education in crisis
Turning to education, the Minority Leader accused the government of dismantling gains made under the Free SHS programme, citing what he called “alarming” WASSCE outcomes.
The 2025 WASSCE results tell a story that should shame every one of us in this Chamber,” he said.
According to him, 220,000 candidates failed Core Mathematics, marking the worst performance in seven years.
“These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet,” he said. “These are 220,000 doors slammed shut.”
He dismissed the government’s “reset” agenda as destructive, stating: “We left them an education system that was rising. They have driven it into the ground.”
Youth unemployment
Afenyo-Markin warned that rising youth unemployment poses a grave risk to national stability, accusing the government of failing to deliver on its job creation promises.
“When 1.3 million young people have nothing to do… that is a national security threat,” he cautioned.
He criticised the unfulfilled promise of a 24-hour economy, describing it as “a massive failure” and “a slap in the face of the youth.”
Assault on parliamentary democracy
On constitutional matters, the Minority Leader accused the government of manipulating parliamentary representation through the courts, referencing legal disputes in Kpandai and Suhum.
“Democracy rests on one sacred principle: the people choose their representatives,” he said. “Not judges. Not bureaucrats.”
He further alleged that discussions were underway in certain quarters to engineer a third presidential term, warning that the Minority would resist such efforts.
“Let us be clear as the midday sun: such schemes will not pass. Not on this Minority’s watch,” he declared.
Certificates of urgency and the Lithium deal
Afenyo-Markin criticised the frequent use of certificates of urgency to rush legislation through Parliament, describing it as an abuse of constitutional provisions.
He cited the now-withdrawn Lithium Agreement as evidence of policy failure.
“When we raised the issue, government officials insisted that it was the right agreement,” he said, adding that public pressure forced a reversal.
He called for the resignation of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Armah Kofi Buah, over the matter.
Attacks on independent institutions
The Minority Leader condemned attempts to abolish the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), describing a private member’s bill to that effect as alarming.
“What they sought to do was to abolish that Office,” he said.
He accused the government of selective justice, claiming that corruption investigations have targeted opposition figures while ruling-party allies have been freed through nolle prosequi.
“The fight against corruption must be genuine and non-partisan,” he stressed. “It must not be used to blackmail us.”
Economic hardship and cost of living
Afenyo-Markin said rising living costs were crushing Ghanaians, citing a 27 per cent increase in electricity tariffs and persistent inflation.
“The social contract is breaking when those at the top live in comfort while those at the bottom are told to tighten their belts,” he said.
He accused the government of wasteful spending, including the acquisition of a presidential jet and ballooning staffing at the Presidency.
Foreign policy “recklessness”
On foreign affairs, the Minority Leader accused the government of diplomatic amateurism, pointing to disputes with the United States and Israel.
“Foreign policy is now a stage for domestic politics,” he said. “This is not smart diplomacy.”
He cautioned against what he termed “bugaga bugaga” diplomacy, calling instead for restraint and strategic engagement.
Afenyo-Markin also said the Minority had drawn a clear boundary against constitutional violations.
“There will be no third term by stealth,” he declared. “We will not stand by while this government dismantles what generations built.”
Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., he said the Minority would continue to “march with the people” and “will not turn back.”
Christmas Message
The Minority Leader thanked parliamentary leadership, staff, and the media, and extended Christmas greetings to Members.
“We’ve worked hard enough,” he said, urging colleagues to prioritise their health during the recess.
He further stated: “He shall remain until April 2028, when his tenure shall have come to an end. May God bless this House. May God bless the Republic of Ghana.”
