Hon. Afenyo Markins has delivered one of his most forceful appeals yet to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus, urging immediate unity to confront what he describes as internal fractures weakening the party’s capacity to protect democratic accountability in Ghana.
Addressing members of the caucus during a meeting on the 7th Floor of Job 600 in Parliament House, he framed the moment as a defining test of commitment, purpose and loyalty to the Ghanaian people who entrusted the party with opposition responsibility.
In opening his address to colleagues, he stressed that the caucus was not gathered by accident but by choice, reminding members of the duty they collectively accepted. “We chose to serve, and in making that choice, we accepted a sacred duty – to be the voice of the voiceless and the guardians of our democracy,” he said.
He warned that internal divisions were eroding that duty and burdening citizens who rely on the caucus to stand firm against abuses of power.
The Minority Leader lamented that internal disagreements were doing the work of the Majority even before policy contestation on the floor of Parliament begins. In a stern assessment of the current state of the caucus, he cautioned that members were enabling the very marginalisation they complain about.
“The Majority sits across from us with one agenda – to suppress our views, to silence our expression, to render us irrelevant. They plot each day how to marginalise us. And what are we doing? We are doing their work for them. We bicker. We backbite. We whisper in corridors instead of roaring in this chamber”
Hon. Afenyo Markins, Minority Leader
He argued that the caucus could not afford bickering, whispering, and harbouring grudges at a time when the country faces severe governance and economic challenges. According to him, disagreements are natural in democracy, but they must not undermine the party’s collective strength or its obligation to Ghanaians.
The Minority Leader drew attention to the original purpose of entering politics – not merely to seek power, but to use that power to implement solutions that can build a functional Ghana. The NPP’s core beliefs in “fiscal discipline, economic freedom and human dignity,” he said, are meaningless if the party remains divided.
He noted that while the government, led by President John Dramani Mahama, continues to act in ways the Minority views as politically repressive, the NPP’s internal weakness only emboldens the ruling administration. He reminded the caucus that numerous party members, including former MPs and Ministers, are being “targeted and persecuted” and that without unity the caucus is powerless to stop it.
“Right now, as we sit divided, the government is running riot. They are mismanaging our economy. They are weaponising State institutions. They are persecuting our compatriots” he added, warning that unless the Minority unites, no one would stop what they consider growing state overreach.
Cost of Electoral Defeat
Turning to the consequences of disunity, Hon. Afenyo Markins said bluntly that division contributed significantly to the party’s electoral defeat – invoking Napoleon Hill’s words about learning from failure, and advised the caucus to rebuild its political architecture.
He reminded members of former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s long-standing caution that political relevance comes from unity and the ability to remain competitive. According to him, the party risks long-term insignificance if it continues to underestimate the consequences of its fragmentation.
“The question is: will we rebuild, or will we repeat? We cannot set sail towards power – our coveted goal – with the same divided ship that brought us to defeat. We must rebuild. We must unite. We must chart a new course.
“You cannot capture power with a divided house. Do you think the people will trust us to manage Ghana when we cannot manage our own Caucus and party? Will they believe in our vision when we cannot agree amongst ourselves?”
Hon. Afenyo Markin, Minority Leader
The Minority Leader revived a familiar political metaphor within the NPP: the philosophy of the broom. He said that strength does not lie in individual brilliance but in collective cohesion. He emphasised that while individuals can be targeted, a unified front is far more resilient in resisting intimidation and political harassment.
Portraying unity not as an abstract ideal but as an immediate requirement for survival, Hon. Afenyo Markins said the caucus stands at a decisive crossroads – one path leads to continued weakness, diminishing public confidence, and further erosion of influence and the other path, unity, restores focus, strength, and credibility.
He warned that citizens are losing jobs, insecurity is rising, and state institutions such as the judiciary are, in his view, being shaped by partisan control. He asked the caucus to consider who speaks for Ghanaians – and for the NPP – if internal divisions silence the party’s own voice.
Call to Action
The Minority Leader issued a direct call to action, urging colleagues to prioritise Ghana above all personal and factional interests. He asked those harbouring past grievances or pursuing early campaigning for the 2026 primaries to set aside their ambitions for the immediate task of building unity.
“We can disagree on who should lead us tomorrow but we must agree to stand together today,” he said. He also urged those “doing their own thing” to recognise the team-based nature of politics and to choose healing over bitterness.
Hon. Afenyo Markins proposed that the caucus make a joint promise to Ghana: to be an effective Minority capable of scrutinising bills, interrogating policies, exposing scandals and defending citizens. He stressed that internal debates should remain internal, and the caucus must speak with one voice to the public.
He concluded with a reflection on how history will judge the Minority. He insisted that the caucus must choose unity, service, and national interest as its legacy. The Leader argued that Ghana needs an opposition anchored in principle, purpose and focus, particularly heading into 2026.
“Together, we cannot be broken. Together, we cannot be silenced,” he said, reaffirming commitment to Ghana and calling for renewed strength as the Minority prepares to confront the challenges ahead.
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