Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the Mahama administration of arresting and jailing critics whose comments it considers unacceptable, saying the government must show the same tolerance that he believes was extended to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) while it was in power.
Speaking at the NPP conference in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3, Mr Afenyo-Markin said members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had made harsher comments about the previous Akufo-Addo administration without facing similar action.
“Critics are arrested and jailed for saying things the NDC government doesn’t like. Under Akufo-Addo, we heard worse things against Akufo-Addo, but we endured,” he said.
He called on the NPP and its Minority MPs to continue challenging the government and scrutinising its decisions, despite what he described as the threat of arrest and intimidation.
“We will defend our freedoms and pursue accountability through democratic means. We, the Minority, shall never be intimidated in Parliament; we will fight for you till we gain power in 2028. They want critics tired, afraid,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin added: “Let’s hold the government accountable without fear of arrest and intimidation.”
He said the NPP had a duty to question the government’s decisions and urged party members to remain united as the party reorganises ahead of the 2028 elections.
Referring to the party’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, he said: “We have a doer and problem solver.”
“The Lord is with us; come 2028, we shall prevail,” he added.
Kufuor calls for careful choice of leaders
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor told the conference that Ghanaians were yearning for the return of the NPP, saying the country needed the party to guide it towards prosperity and transformation.
In a video message shown at the event in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3, he said: “Ghana needs NPP to lead to prosperity and transformation.”
He urged delegates selecting the party’s next national leaders to carefully assess the candidates and choose a leadership team capable of restoring public confidence.
“So, even as we meet to pick our new crop of leaders, I want to appeal to all of you: let us, for now, select the national executive committee of the party on the careful examination to find out the sort of leadership that will enable us to regain the confidence of the people of Ghana. Let us show true respect for the idea that true sovereignty is with the people,” he said.
Former President Akufo-Addo also expressed confidence that the party would return to government in 2028 with Dr Bawumia.
“With God’s guidance, we will emerge victorious as we did in 2000 and 2016 and form the government in 2028 with Dr Bawumia,” he said.
The NPP is holding its National Delegates Congress and national officers’ elections in Kumasi, with delegates voting to choose the party’s next national executives.
The party has also proposed and adopted a number of constitutional amendments for consideration at the congress.
