The Majority Leader Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, delivered his final remarks as the 8th Parliament of Ghana comes to an end, to pave way for the 9th Parliament.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s speech encompassed a blend of reflection, advice, and a call to unity, directed towards both his colleagues and the incoming government.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin began by reaffirming the commitment of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the incoming minority to uphold democratic principles and defend the rights of all Ghanaians. He emphasized;
“The NPP incoming minority will not allow the NDC government to use illegalities and unconstitutional means to frustrate and abuse the rights of former appointees of the Akufo-Addo government. Our mantra is ”touch one, touch all.”
Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Majority Leader of the 8th Parliament
He urged the NDC to focus on their promises to the people of Ghana and to utilize their limited time in office to foster development rather than pursuing political vendettas.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin laid out the expectations that Ghanaians have from the new government, emphasizing economic relief measures and a lean government structure.
“The people of Ghana are expecting the E-Levy to be abolished. The people of Ghana are expecting that cocoa prices for the farmers will be increased without delay. The Ghanaian people are expecting that taxes at our ports will be reduced significantly.”
Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Majority Leader of the 8th Parliament
He also highlighted the need for a streamlined government, suggesting that the NDC should appoint no more than 60 ministers, with 16 regional ministers and the remaining 44 only 25 can be taken out of Parliament out of about 160, which he argued would lead to redundancy in the house.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin reflected on the dynamics within the Parliament and anticipated a shift in the balance of power, suggesting that the NPP’s role as a constructive minority would be significant. He reiterated;
“Very soon, Mr. Speaker, the majority leader would experience a moment that Speaker [Bagbin] referred to as ‘majority leader look behind you, your back is empty’. Very soon, your [Ato Forson] members who would become redundant will not come into this chamber and there you would see that the minority that you think is a mini minority will become the majority. Mr. Speaker, this thing I am not a prophet neither am I a seer, but I can foresee that this is going to happen.”
Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Majority Leader of the 8th Parliament
He stressed the importance of maintaining a united front and the readiness of the NPP to engage constructively in parliamentary activities.
He also shifted his focus to the speaker’s re-appointment into the 9th Parliament. He stressed that some of the members of the NDC did not want Speaker Bagbin back upon all that he did for the NDC to get power, they wanted to remove him. He said humoredly; ”It took the prayers of our side [NPP] to get Mr. Speaker back to this house.’’
Addressing Internal Party Dynamics
The Majority Leader touched on internal issues within his party, acknowledging past challenges and urging members to stay resilient and committed. He remarked;
“For those of you who are getting out of Parliament, please don’t give up on public service. There are mistakes we all make. Go back to the drawing board, get closer to the people, and relaunch yourself back into public service.”
Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Majority Leader of the 8th Parliament
He also encouraged retiring members to share their experiences with the younger generation to strengthen the party’s future. He added;
“For those of you I wronged, anything I did that made you unhappy, I am sorry. Let it slide. Let’s move on as colleagues and pray for a brighter day for our Parliament.”
Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Majority Leader of the 8th Parliament
Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin concluded his speech with gratitude towards the Speaker and his colleagues for their guidance and support throughout his political journey. He expressed hope for a prosperous future for Ghana’s Parliament and its members.
His speech marked the end of an era and set a tone of resilience, unity, and forward-thinking for the incoming Parliament.
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