Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin offered a candid reflection on the political challenges he faced during the 8th Parliament, describing the Minority in Parliament as “tough, stubborn, and difficult.”
In a statement delivered on January 6, 2025, during the final session of the 8th Parliament, he acknowledged the struggles of managing a deeply divided legislative body and the toll it took on his efforts to advance government business.
Afenyo-Markin expressed frustration at perceptions of his leadership style, explaining that many misunderstood his combative approach.
“Mr. Speaker, many did not understand why I was combative on several occasions. Some didn’t know how the heat was on me and were saying, ‘You are Majority Leader, reach out,’” he stated, hinting at the high-pressure environment he navigated.
The Deputy Majority Leader attributed much of the tension to the dynamics of an evenly split Parliament, where the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) held equal numbers of seats, making cooperation both essential and elusive.
He suggested that the NDC Minority’s confidence in an eventual return to power influenced their unwillingness to compromise.
“The Minority were such a tough, stubborn, difficult side. Mr. Speaker, you could never have an agreement with them because they were smelling power—and I understand, rightly so,” he said.
