In a revealing conversation on the KSM Show monitored by MyNewsGh, Alexander Afenyo-Markin opened up about the pressures of leadership, the challenges he faced as Majority Leader, and the unexpected outcomes of the 2024 elections.
Known for his assertive approach in Parliament, he defended his leadership style, explaining that the circumstances demanded a more aggressive stance.
“I was alone, carrying everything on my shoulders. People saw me as boisterous, but it was a necessary intervention. If I didn’t do it, who would?” he said, acknowledging that his perceived forcefulness was a strategic necessity rather than mere bravado.
Afenyo-Markin also reflected on the difficulties of parliamentary politics, particularly his dealings with the Speaker. He admitted that some of the decisions made were tough but inevitable, dismissing criticisms that he failed to negotiate effectively.
“When the Speaker ruled against us, people asked why I didn’t negotiate. But all doors were shut. The Speaker is not neutral; he belongs to a party. And at that time, his party was applying pressure on him just as I was applying pressure from my side,” he explained.
The conversation took a deeper dive into the NPP’s performance in the 2024 elections, where Afenyo-Markin admitted that the party had expected better results but suffered an unexpected setback.
“We went into the elections bruised. We expected to win but didn’t. Even in Parliament, we thought we’d at least return with about 120 seats, but we fell back to where we were in 1997. Now, it’s 88 against 187, and none of the independent MPs joined us,” he lamented.
Despite the setback, he remains resolute in his mission to reposition the NPP, acknowledging the need to reconnect with the party’s base, especially the youth, and to address the impact of policies that alienated supporters.
“The party base must be activated. There is no party leader now. We don’t have a flagbearer yet, though names are being mentioned. In the meantime, everything is on my shoulders. The youth shifted away from us. The debt exchange program hurt us because our base—the middle class—felt the impact. But we need to rebrand and push back,” he asserted.
Afenyo-Markin also touched on the perception-driven nature of politics, recognizing that political roles often demand actions that may not align with a leader’s personal identity.
“Politics is a perception-driven enterprise. You must take your space. Your role in politics will not always reflect the real you as a father, husband, or Christian. In Parliament, you are dealing with opponents who also have their ideologies and strategies,” he remarked.
