Afenyo-Markin Accuses Gov’t of Targeting Opposition , Takes Case to Christian Council

Minority Leader Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin has told the Christian Council of Ghana that the coercive powers of the State must never become instruments for intimidating legitimate opposition, as he raised fresh concerns about what the Minority calls the selective use of investigative and prosecutorial authority against opposition figures.

Osahen Afenyo-Markin made the case during a meeting with the Council’s leadership in Accraon Tuesday October 6, where he led a delegation of the Minority Caucus in Parliament to discuss the economy, constitutional governance and the Rule of Law.

The engagement followed an invitation from the Council, which sought the Minority’s position amid public debate a number of governancerelated issued.

High Court arrest attempt

At the heart of the Minority Leader’s rule of law concerns was the recent attempted arrest of the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, within the premises of the High Court in Accra.

Osahen Afenyo-Markin said the attempted arrest did not respect the applicable constitutional and parliamentary procedures. He also questioned the circumstances surrounding the warrant subsequently obtained by the Economic and Organised Crime Office and the MP’s prolonged detention after he voluntarily presented himself to the Office.

The MP in question has described the case as political persecution. He was later granted bail of GHS10 million and said he would continue to serve his constituents.

“We seek no immunity”

The Minority Leader was careful to draw a line between accountability and persecution. He said the Minority seeks no immunity from lawful investigation and will never defend impunity.

But, he added, accountability must proceed according to law, and the coercive powers of the State must never be turned against legitimate opposition.

He assured the Council that the Minority would remain peaceful and law-abiding, but would not retreat from its constitutional responsibility to hold Government accountable.

“To do so would effectively silence the millions of Ghanaians whose votes entrusted us with that responsibility,” Osahen Afenyo-Markin said.

Term limits and constitutional restraints

The Rule of Law theme extended to the pending Supreme Court proceedings on presidential term limits.

Osahen Afenyo-Markin said the Minority respected the Court’s independence and would avoid prejudging the cases, but noted the importance of preserving effective constitutional restraints against excessive or indefinite concentration of executive power.

On constitutional reform, the Minority Leaderrestated the New Patriotic Party’s support for necessary reforms while voicing serious reservations about the Government’s current approach, including the scale of the proposed amendments and what he called a substantial departure from the recommendations of the Government’s own Constitution Review Committee. Reform of that magnitude, he said, must command broad national ownership.

Economy, GoldBod and other matters

The Minority Leader also raised the continuing hardship confronting households, particularly youth unemployment, warning that persistent economic exclusion among young people threatens social cohesion and national stability.

He reiterated concerns about approximately US$1.7 billion in reported losses associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, their implications for the Bank of Ghana’s balance sheet, and a possible recapitalisation burden on taxpayers. The Minority called for transparent and independent reconciliation of the figures and the underlying transactions.

Discussions also covered protecting children from social media harms, rights-centred regulation of artificial intelligence, narcotics trafficking, galamsey and water security, religious freedom and mission schools, and long-term national development planning.

On the National Cathedral, Osahen Afenyo-Markin noted the Government’s renewed engagement with a project the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) strongly criticised while in opposition, and encouraged the Council to help explore a transparent, Christian-led private financing model that avoids additional costs to taxpayers.

He briefed the Council on the NPP’s recent National Delegates Conference and asked for prayers for its newly elected national officers, and for all who hold leadership in Ghana regardless of political affiliation.

Council commends Minority

The Council commended the Minority for the courage with which it continues to pursue its constitutional mandate despite its numbers in Parliament, and acknowledged the leadership Osahen Afenyo-Markin has provided in keeping the caucus focused and resolute.

It said the meeting formed part of its engagement with key institutional stakeholders in Ghana’s democracy, and that the substantive matters raised would be referred to the relevant bodies within the Church for consideration and appropriate action.

The Minority said it left the engagement encouraged and strengthened in its conviction that credible institutions must remain willing to speak, listen and act in the national interest.

“Whatever our differences on public questions, Ghana must always stand above all of us,” Osahen Afenyo-Markin said.

Delegation

Osahen Afenyo-Markin was accompanied by Hon. Jerry Ahmed Shaib, MP for Weija-Gbawe and Second Deputy Minority Whip; Hon. Daniel Nana Addo-Kenneth, MP for Okere; Hon. Frank Asiedu Bekoe, MP for Suhum; Hon. Emmanuel Tobbin, MP for Anyaa-Sowutuom; Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko, MP for Akim Swedru; Hon. Fred Kyei Asamoah, MP for Offinso North; Hon. Francis Kwabena Owusu-Akyaw, MP for Juaben; Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, MP for Akim Oda; and Hon. Farouk Aliu Mahama, former MP for Yendi.

They were received by a Council delegation chaired by Bishop Dr Lawson Adjei, former Vice-Chairman and Executive Member of the CCG, together with Dr Joyce Lako Steiner, Acting General Secretary; Rev. Godwin Amuzu, Director of Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations; Mr Samuel Koku Anyidoho, Communications Advisor to the General Secretary; Rev. Felix Kadjahlo; Rev. Christian Tsikata; and Rev. Mark Quaye.