The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has taken the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to town for unleashing economic hardships to hardworking Ghanaian farmers, political persecution and cruel power outages popularly referred to as ‘Dumsor’ in the country.
In a wide-ranging and strongly worded statement welcoming Members of Parliament (MPs) back from recess, the Minority Leader who is also the MP for Effutu, accused the government of presiding over economic mismanagement, governance failures, and declining public trust.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin whose statement was read on his behalf by the Deputy Minority Leader, Madam Patricia Appiagyei on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, May 21, 2026, described the current state of the nation as one marked by “scandals, failures and deepening public distress,” arguing that recent developments across key sectors demanded urgent parliamentary intervention.
He said Parliament could not remain silent at a time when, in his view, citizens were facing worsening economic conditions, institutional instability, and “avoidable governance lapses.”
Message to Ghanaians
Speaking directing to the Ghanaian people, Osahen Afenyo-Markin said the NPP has heard their cries, giving assurance that the Minority will not be silent on their predicament.
“We see you. The families sitting in darkness because dumsor has returned under a government that promised to end it. The traders driven from their livelihoods in South Africa. The farmers watching their cocoa and cashew harvests yield returns that do not cover their costs. The citizens who woke to armed men at their door for posting a political opinion online. The students cramming their lessons by candlelight in a country that produces its own electricity. The families of the eight men massacred in Titao who are still waiting for justice. We see every one of you. We hear you. And we will not be silent on your behalf.
“The people of Ghana deserve governance that is equal to their patience and their sacrifice. They deserve a government that is fully at work, fully focused, and fully accountable. What they have today falls far short of that standard. It is the duty of this Minority, and the duty of this House, to say so clearly, to demand better loudly, and to use every constitutional tool available to us to compel accountability. That is our mandate. That is our promise to the people of Ghana,” the Minority Leader reiterated.
Arrests over political speech
The Minority Leader also raised concerns about wanton arrests of individuals over political commentary on social media, particularly relating to criticisms of government handling of electricity supply and deteriorating living conditions in the country.
He argued that such actions risk undermining constitutional freedoms, especially the right to free expression guaranteed under Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin urged the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney-General to ensure that law enforcement agencies operate strictly within the law, adding that no citizen should be detained for expressing political views.
Return of Dumsor
A major focus of the Minority Leader’s statement was the return of dumsor, which government officials and NDC faithful have vehemently refuted.
He said the disruptions were having negative effects on households, businesses, and essential services, warning that the situation could erode economic productivity if not urgently addressed.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin warned that the economic cost of the power challenges was significant and required a clear government response.
He therefore called on the Minister for Energy and Green Transition to appear before Parliament with a “credible, costed, and time-bound plan” to resolve the crisis.
Concerns over BoG financial position
The Minority Leader also raised alarm over what he described as troubling figures contained in the 2025 audited financial statements of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
According to him, the central bank’s financial position reflected substantial losses and a deeply negative equity situation, which he said required urgent parliamentary scrutiny.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin called for a joint hearing by Parliament’s Finance and Economy Committees with the Governor of the BoG to examine the situation and provide a recovery roadmap.
He further insisted that Parliament must be kept fully informed about any recapitalisation strategy being considered.
Damang Mine transaction under scrutiny
One of the strongest sections of the statement focused on the controversial lease arrangement involving the Damang Mine.
The Minority Leader raised concerns about potential conflict of interest issues and called for a full parliamentary investigation into the transaction.
He argued that public assets must be handled with “maximum transparency,” insisting that Parliament must scrutinise bidding processes, evaluation criteria, and ownership structures connected to the deal.
“Mr. Speaker, the award of the Damang Mine lease to Engineers and Planners Company Limited, owned by Ibrahim Mahama, younger brother of President John Dramani Mahama, raises the most serious constitutional questions of this administration’s tenure. When Gold Fields of South Africa exited the mine, the government initiated what it calls a competitive bidding process.
“The Minority is constrained to call it what it is: a questionable transaction dressed in the language of due process. The lease was awarded on April 7, 2026. The handover was performed on April 18. The mine’s value is estimated at between $600 million and $1 billion.
“The government’s defence is that President Mahama recused himself from the Cabinet meeting that considered this matter. Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has confirmed this publicly, and supportive voices have praised it as the right action. Mr. Speaker, this Parliament must reject that argument firmly. A single absence from a Cabinet room does not cleanse a fundamentally compromised process,” Osahen Afenyo-Markin stated.
IMF programme transition discussed
Touching on Ghana’s relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Minority Leader clarified that the country had transitioned from an Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement to a new IMF framework.
He said this indicated continued international oversight of Ghana’s economic reforms and stressed the need for policies that support stability without increasing hardship on citizens.
Call for stronger protection of Ghanaians abroad
Osahen Afenyo-Markin also highlighted recent security concerns involving Ghanaian nationals abroad, including reported attacks and instability in parts of South Africa, Burkina Faso, and the Gulf region.
He acknowledged diplomatic interventions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but said more needed to be done to establish a structured system for protecting citizens overseas.
He called for a comprehensive reintegration plan for evacuated Ghanaians, as well as an early warning system to prevent future crises.
Concerns over detained MP in Europe
Osahen Afenyo-Markin began his address by referencing the detention of a Ghanaian Member of Parliament at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands, linked to international financial crime investigations.
The independent MP for Asante Akim North, Ohene Kwame Frimpong who is doing business with the Majority NDC in Parliament, was arrested by authorities at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands and detained over allegations of money laundering and involvement in a romance scam, linked to a US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe regarding financial crimes.
While stressing the importance of due process and presumption of innocence, the Minority Leader said the incident had already caused “serious reputational damage” to Ghana internationally.
He called for intensified diplomatic engagement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and regular updates to Parliament on efforts to manage the situation.
Government urged to focus on delivery
The Minority Leader also expressed concern about growing internal political positioning within the governing NDC ahead of the next general election as disclosed by President Mahama’s Executive Secretary Dr Callistus Mahama.
He warned that such distractions could undermine governance performance at a time when key economic and social challenges require full attention.
“Mr. Speaker, when a sitting President’s own Executive Secretary is driven to publish a national newspaper appeal begging colleagues to stop campaigning and govern, the country is not being governed by a full government. Ghana remains under an IMF programme. Debt restructuring is incomplete. Dumsor is back. Farmers are in distress.
“The people appointed to solve these problems are focused on replacing the man who appointed them. The President must heed his own Executive Secretary and enforce real discipline,” the Minority Leader urged.
Sports administration and World Cup readiness
Minority Leader Osahen Afenyo-Markin also criticised Ghana’s organisation of the recently held African Athletics Championships at the University of Ghana Stadium, describing it as poorly executed despite long preparation time.
He cited logistical challenges, including accommodation and technical failures, which he said damaged Ghana’s international reputation.
He warned that similar failures must not affect preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, urging the Sports Minister to present a detailed preparedness plan to Parliament.
He further called for a parliamentary investigation into the athletics event’s organisation.
Minority demands parliamentary action
Concluding his statement, Osahen Afenyo-Markin outlined a series of demands, including:
- Review of arrests linked to political expression
- Energy Minister’s appearance over power disruptions
- Parliamentary probe into the Bank of Ghana’s financial position
- Foreign Affairs briefing on Ghanaians abroad and reintegration plans
- Full investigation into the Damang Mine lease transaction
- Review of athletics championship failures and World Cup preparedness
He said Parliament must take a more active role in holding the executive accountable, adding that the current challenges facing the country required urgent and sustained oversight.
