Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the Mahama-led administration of rebranding and claiming credit for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) achievements.
Addressing delegates at the NPP’s National Delegates Conference on Saturday, July 19, at the University of Ghana Stadium, Mr Afenyo-Markin defended the legacy of former president Akufo-Addo’s administration and dismissed claims of failure following the party’s 2024 electoral loss.
“Yes, we lost the 2024 elections in a big way,” he admitted. “But let us be clear, this was not a defeat born out of failure. It was a perfect storm of adversity no government in the Fourth Republic has ever had.”
He cited several challenges faced during the NPP’s tenure, including the banking sector crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war.
“No government in our democratic history faced this scale of compounded crisis,” he said. “Yet in the driving seat, we held the line.”
He praised the resilience of Ghanaians and highlighted economic progress made under the NPP.
“We should commend them because it was the sacrifices they, including the bondholders, made that led to the big economic recovery we started witnessing from early 2024,” he said.
“We fixed a crisis and handed over an economy with stronger GDP growth than what we inherited in 2017. We built historic levels of gold and foreign exchange reserves, reserves the current administration is now relying on to prop up the cedi and support the economy,” he added.
The Minority Leader highlighted key achievements such as Free SHS, industrialisation under 1D1F, infrastructure development, and the rollout of STEM and digital programmes.
“We industrialised like never before… We expanded health infrastructure, revitalised agriculture and rolled out STEM so boldly,” he said.
However, he criticised the Mahama-led government for, in his words, rebranding NPP policies.
“Mahama’s government is taking propaganda credit, reaping where it has not sown,” he said.
“When they talk about resetting, whether it is the so-called 24-hour economy, the gold board, or anything else, they are simply rebranding our achievements and marketing them as their own.”
He warned party members not to be deceived.
“The foundation they are standing on was laid by this party, by our sacrifices, by our bold leadership in the face of crisis,” he stated. “So no, this party has no reason to hang its head at all.”
The Minority leader rallied the party around its core values.
“Let us go back to our roots. Let us rebuild with courage. Let us reimagine our future,” he said. “We rise again in unity and in the enduring spirit of our party, our great NPP.”
Source: Clara Seshie
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