Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will continue to criticise the Mahama administration and demand accountability, despite what he described as the arrest and intimidation of government critics.
Speaking at the NPP conference in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3, he said people had been detained for making statements considered unacceptable by the government, despite members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) having made more severe comments about the previous Akufo-Addo administration.
“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.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the parliamentary minority would defend civil liberties and pursue its demands through democratic processes.
“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.
He called on the NPP and its Minority representatives to be more outspoken in scrutinising the government’s decisions, while refusing to be deterred by the threat of arrest or intimidation.
“Let’s hold the government accountable without fear of arrest and intimidation,” he added.
The Minority Leader also expressed support for the party’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, describing him as “a doer and problem solver”.
He urged party members to unite behind the NPP’s reorganisation and to support Dr Bawumia ahead of the 2028 elections.
“The Lord is with us; come 2028, we shall prevail,” Mr Afenyo-Markin said.
Kufuor urges careful choice of NPP leaders
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor said Ghanaians were seeking the return of the NPP and that the country needed the party to guide it towards prosperity and transformation.
In a video message shown at the conference in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3, he said: “Ghana needs NPP to lead to prosperity and transformation.
“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.”
Former President Akufo-Addo also expressed confidence that the NPP would return to power in 2028 under 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. Delegates are 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.
