Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has said that Manhyia South MP, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, is being victimised because he is one of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’) sharpest voices in Parliament.
According to him, the continuous pursuit of opposition members by the NDC government is an attempt to silence critical voices and instill fear among those expected to scrutinize government business.
Speaking after visiting Baffour Awuah, who is currently in custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on October 2, Afenyo-Markin said the former MP remains in high spirits despite his predicament.
“Every one of my colleagues is being pursued in one form or the other. Sometimes as a leader, you have colleagues who are supposed to interrogate matters, scrutinize and they are afraid. Baffour was one of our young sharpshooters, hard working. And look at what is happening today. But this will not break us,” he said.
“Seeing him behind the counter in cells, I told him that look, the forebearers who brought this party into being suffered more than you. So Baffour, don’t give up. He’s in high spirit,” he added.
Afenyo-Markin called on members of the NPP to remain united and committed to the party’s cause, stressing that unity is needed to bring the party’s flagbearer to power.
“I call on every NPP member to seize this opportunity and stay committed to the cause of the party. We need unity. Unity to bring our flag bearer to power and to work for the people of Ghana,” he said.
He accused the NDC administration of perpetuating a vicious cycle of targeting political opponents upon assuming office, a move he said makes it difficult for moderates within the NPP to call for calm when they return to power.
“What NDC is doing, they are making it extremely difficult for even moderates within NPP to call for calm tomorrow. They are making it difficult. They are causing a lot of pain. We must bring an end to this vicious cycle of a political party coming into office and its first focus is attack opponents, find fault, find excuse,” he stated.
Using an analogy of police checks, he said the government was deliberately finding fault with its opponents.
“Those of you who have cars, if a police officer arrests you or stops you and first asks you your license, you give him license. The next, where is your triangle? The next thing, where is your fire extinguisher? That is exactly what NDC is doing. It’s not fair. We are all in this system together. We are all in this together as one big family. We are supposed to sustain the democracy,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin further alleged that the government was using corruption tags to silence critics, including social media activists.
“If you talk, then they want to tag you with corruption. Thinking that if they tag you with corruption, that is the end. That will shut you. Then you can’t talk. TikTokers, social media activists, they are putting fear into them. No problem. The wicked shall not long be victorious. They shall not long possess the skies,” he said.
He also threw a challenge to the NDC, asking what single legacy initiative President John Dramani Mahama would be remembered for by 2028.
“So, I throw this back to my friends in NDC. If we get to 2028 and the people are demanding a single initiative that His Excellency President Mahama would be remembered for, what is that one thing? I leave the answer to them. I’m sad,” he said.
