The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has stated that Ghana is not safe under the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) due to executive actions, human rights abuses and pressure on state institutions to act in favour of the governing party.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu also accused the NDC government of executive incompetence, majority tyranny, attack on free speech, indiscriminate arrests of people for their dissent and a malleable judiciary that together, risk pushing Ghana towards the brink.
Delivering a blistering closing address to Parliament on July 31, 2026 before the House adjourned sine die, the Minority Leader furtehr criticised government of applying anti-corruption measures selectively, questioning what he described as differing approaches to investigations involving individuals associated with the governing party compared with members of the opposition.
Justice, he argued, must be administered fairly and consistently regardless of political affiliation.
Harassment of the opposition
The Minority Leader noted that members of the opposition have been subjected to political harassment through state investigative and prosecutorial institutions.
He strongly condemned aspects of Ghana’s bail regime, arguing that stringent bail conditions could amount to punishment before trial.
On freedom of expression, Osahen Afenyo-Markin reiterated the Minority’s support for repealing provisions of the Criminal Offences Act that criminalise insulting conduct and the publication of false news, maintaining that such matters should instead be addressed through civil legal processes.
“Members of the New Patriotic Party, including MPs from the Minority, have been maliciously targeted and harassed, simply for holding a different view, using the investigative and prosecutorial powers of the state.
“We say, without apology, that this is both dangerous and wrong. A government that fears its critics has already told us something horrifying about itself: it is inflicting a new culture of silence on this nation.
“Mr Speaker, we also place on record a shocking string of doubtful judicial decisions that has emerged in recent times. Taken together, they appear to suggest that there is one set of justice for the friends and cronies of this government, and another, altogether harsher, set for its opponents.
“Ghana is bigger than any one party, and our democracy only works if the opposition can speak, organise, and challenge power without looking over its shoulder, and if every citizen, regardless of political colour, can trust that the same law applies to them all,” the Minority Leader told Parliament.
Opposition to Tribunal Bill
The Minority, Osahen Afenyo-Markin emphasised, is opposed to the recently passed bill establishing district and regional tribunals as it will ignite bad memories of the past.
While acknowledging that Ghana’s Constitution provides for public tribunals, he argued that recommendations made by the Constitutional Review Committee chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh favoured replacing tribunals with ordinary courts.
“We have walked this dangerous road before. In the 1980s, Public Tribunals and Community Tribunals were accused of grave human rights abuses. They earned a name, and not a kind one: ‘kangaroo courts’”, Minority Leader recalled.
Professor Kwesi Yankah has called the bill “a revolutionary monster nicely cloaked in fugu democracy”, warning it marks “the return of terror”.
The Minority Leader warned that the legislation could undermine public confidence in the justice system and appealed to President John Dramani Mahama not to assent to the bill.
Commendation for Supreme Court
Despite the criticisms, Osahen Afenyo-Markin praised the Supreme Court for upholding the constitutionality of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), describing the institution as an important safeguard in Ghana’s fight against corruption.
However, he expressed concern about the use of the Attorney-General’s constitutional powers to discontinue prosecutions through nolle prosequi, urging transparency and equal application of the law.
Ensuring accountability
Osahen Afenyo-Markin framed his remarks around former US President Theodore Roosevelt’s famous “man in the arena” speech, urging Members of the Minority Caucus to remain resolute in holding the government to account for its stewardship even under threats of arrests and incarceration.
He drew inspiration from former US President’s famous “Citizenship in a Republic” speech, he encouraged his colleagues not to be discouraged by political attacks but to continue scrutinising government actions in the public interest.
“We must continue to fight, scrutinise and hold this Government’s feet to the fire because we were elected to defend the public interest, demand accountability and speak for the people,” he said.
The Minority Leader also referenced remarks made by the Clerk to Parliament during the launch of the “Parliament and You” initiative, reiterating Parliament must remain an institution that protects liberty, equality, opportunity and prosperity for all Ghanaians.
Calls for investigations
The Minority Leader called for parliamentary investigations into several national tragedies, including the June 29 floods and fire disasters, which he said claimed dozens of lives according to figures from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
He argued that officials responsible for disaster preparedness should be held accountable and urged Parliament to summon members of the relevant task force to explain their actions before and during the disasters.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin also demanded parliamentary inquiries into last year’s military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of senior state officials and military personnel, as well as the deaths of young women during a Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise.
According to him, Parliament must ensure accountability through transparent investigations rather than allowing such incidents to pass without official responsibility being accepted.
Failed campaign promises
The Minority Leader accused the government of failing to fulfil several campaign promises, including initiatives relating to agriculture, employment, illegal mining, women’s economic empowerment and governance reforms.
He questioned the progress of flagship programmes such as the proposed 24-hour economy, the Women’s Development Bank and other social interventions, arguing that many commitments remained unfulfilled.
Budget figures questioned
Turning to the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review presented by the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader questioned what he described as inconsistencies in the fiscal data.
According to him, conflicting inflation and expenditure figures appeared in different sections of the budget document and cited observations by policy analyst Dr. Adu Owusu Sarkodie of the Centre for Policy Scrutiny.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin called on the Finance Minister to return to Parliament with corrected and consistent figures, arguing that credible economic data are essential for policymaking and public confidence.
Tribute to national figures
Earlier, Osahen Afenyo-Markin paid tribute to the late diplomat and former Member of Parliament of Anlo, James Victor Gbeho, describing him as a distinguished public servant who represented Ghana with dignity at the United Nations and across West Africa.
He also extended condolences to the people of Dagbon following the death of the Ya Na, acknowledging the significance of the traditional institution and expressing solidarity with the chiefs and people during the mourning period.
