The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has declared that the Minority Caucus will hold the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to strict account despite its limited numbers in the House.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday as the House resumed sittings, Afenyo-Markin said the Minority side remains confident, disciplined, and determined to provide adequate oversight, describing his team as a “proud mighty few.”
“We are firm in our conviction and will be able to hold this super majority to account. We don’t believe in numbers; we believe in substance, and we confront you with substance,” he told the House.
The Effutu MP said the Minority’s mission is guided by “discipline, hard work, and faith in God,” promising that his team will speak truth to power and work tirelessly in the interest of Ghanaians.
Afenyo-Markin drew inspiration from past political transitions in Ghana’s parliamentary history, noting that smaller caucuses had previously turned their fortunes around through unity and determination.
He referenced Speaker Alban Bagbin’s own experience leading a smaller group in 2000 and the NPP’s rise to victory in 2016 as examples that the current Minority can emulate.
“Mr Speaker, when your party lost in 2000, you led the charge with fewer numbers and made progress within a short time. We are also inspired by what we saw in 2016 — that by 2020, your side had made progress. We believe in that same dream that comes in 2028, the Minority will be the Majority,” he said.
In a related development, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for urgent, decisive measures to address Ghana’s worsening illegal mining crisis, warning that the country faces an environmental catastrophe if concrete steps are not taken soon.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday as the House resumed sittings, Afenyo-Markin painted a grim picture of the devastation caused by galamsey across the country, lamenting that Ghana’s rivers and lands have become dangerously polluted.
“Speaker, our rivers run brown with pollution, vast tracts of once fertile land lie scarred and toxic, and many of our citizens in mining communities face illness and danger from poisonous chemicals. We have talked about illegal mining for years, yet the problem has only grown worse. Time for mere talk is over,” he said.
The Effutu MP emphasized that the time had come for “visionary and coordinated action” to protect Ghana’s environment and future generations. He urged the government, Parliament, and local authorities to work together effectively to mitigate the damage caused by illegal mining activities.
Afenyo-Markin reminded the House that the country had long been warned about the dangers of illegal small-scale mining, also known as galamsey.
He cited investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas’s 2010 documentary, which exposed the “dark underbelly” of illegal mining and the corruption that fuels it.
