Alexander Afenyo-Markin has revealed that politicians often make unrealistic promises in their quest for power, which ultimately sets them up for failure.
In an exclusive interview on Joy TV discussing the aftermath of the 2024 elections, the outgoing majority leader in parliament criticized the tendency of politicians to raise public expectations without considering the practicality of fulfilling such promises.
“Politicians are often their own enemies. We create high expectations, and people naturally expect us to deliver on them,” he remarked.
Citing a recent conversation with the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Afenyo-Markin recalled an example from the campaign trail.
“I teased him last night about his campaign promise in a cocoa-growing area. He claimed the NPP should increase the producer price of cocoa, and I asked him, ‘Now that you have power, will you increase it? Do you have the resources to absorb the subsidy?’
Of course, he doesn’t, but he said it anyway,” Afenyo-Markin shared.
He also questioned President-elect John Dramani Mahama’s campaign promises, particularly those related to social interventions and tax reforms.
“President Mahama went around making pledges to support private institutions while simultaneously promising to repeal certain taxes. But how will he fund these social interventions? These promises come at a cost,” Afenyo-Markin argued.
The Majority Leader expressed scepticism about the feasibility of fulfilling such promises, urging politicians to be more mindful of the economic implications of their campaign rhetoric.
“We must be realistic about what we can achieve rather than raising false hopes,” he concluded.
