Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has addressed claims that he targeted certain individuals during ministerial vetting, particularly Sam George.
“Sam George and I have had a cordial relationship,” he admitted. “But I think he went to the extreme in some of his politics,” he said on the KSM show monitored by MyNewsGh.
Explaining why he took a tough stance on the NDC MP during vetting, Afenyo-Markin made it clear that political attacks come with consequences.
“Look, Akufo-Addo has given me a political space through his leadership. He has given the NPP an opportunity to be seen by the nation. He is all we have as our leader. So, politically, if you keep pounding him, pounding him, pounding him without respect, I will need to scrutinize some of the things you have said about him.”
According to Afenyo-Markin, Sam George’s public commentary often crossed the line.
“The attacks on the Chief Justice, the attacks on Akufo-Addo—there was a lot. If you make such strong statements, you should be ready to defend them when the time comes.”
When pressed on whether he deliberately focused on Sam George during the vetting process, he did not shy away from his position.
“Yes, I wanted to scrutinize him. I needed to. That’s politics.”
Beyond his disagreements with Sam George, Afenyo-Markin revealed that his leadership in Parliament has not been without criticism from within his own party.
“When we lost the election, some people attacked me for allowing Mahama’s ministers to go through the vetting process faster than expected. But I said, look, we don’t need to create a vacuum. Let’s push it through. The government must be formed quickly. If they make mistakes, that’s when we can criticize them.”
He also acknowledged that leading the Minority comes with internal resistance.
“There are times my colleagues disagree with cooperation. There are times they don’t like my approach. But as a leader, you must always balance it.”
According to him, forming committees in Parliament is one of the most challenging tasks.
“Everyone wants a space. You listen to their views, you make an input, but you can’t satisfy everyone. You just have to get it through and move on.”
Despite the challenges, Afenyo-Markin remains focused on his role.
“I have to play my role as Minority Leader. I have a responsibility to lead the rebranding of the party. The base must be activated, and we must hold the NDC to the fire.”
For him, politics is not just about strategy—it’s also about perception.
“The most important thing is that it’s a perception-driven enterprise. People must see that you are fighting for your party. That’s what matters.”
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