Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin has raised concerns over Ghana’s economy, governance, illegal mining and the rule of law during an engagement with the leadership of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG).
According to Mr Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Caucus met the Council on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, following an invitation from the religious body to discuss the financial performance and governance of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) and other national issues.
He said the engagement was intended to allow the Council to understand the Minority’s position on GoldBod while exploring ways to promote transparency and accountability without undermining an important national economic institution.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said he used the meeting to raise concerns about the approximately US$1.7 billion in reported losses associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
He called for an independent and transparent reconciliation of the figures and the underlying transactions, citing concerns about their implications for the Bank of Ghana’s balance sheet and the potential recapitalisation burden on taxpayers.
The Minority Leader also raised concerns about the continued impact of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, on Ghana’s rivers, forests and farmlands.
He argued that illegal mining should no longer be treated solely as an environmental or mining issue, but also as a matter affecting public health, water and food security, livelihoods and the enforcement of state laws.
Mr Afenyo-Markin urged the Christian Council to use its moral authority to support what he described as decisive and even-handed action against illegal mining, particularly the financiers and organised networks behind the activities.
On the economy, he said the government’s efforts at recovery must ultimately translate into jobs, improved living conditions and opportunities, particularly for young people.
He warned that persistent economic exclusion among the youth could have implications for social cohesion and national stability.
The Minority Leader also discussed constitutional reform, saying the New Patriotic Party (NPP) supports necessary reforms but has reservations about the government’s current approach, including the scale of proposed amendments and what he described as departures from recommendations of the Constitution Review Committee.
He said constitutional reforms of such magnitude should have broad national ownership.
Mr Afenyo-Markin further raised concerns about what he described as the selective use of investigative and prosecutorial powers against opposition figures.
He cited the recent case involving the Manhyia South MP, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, and questioned the circumstances surrounding his arrest warrant and subsequent detention after he voluntarily presented himself to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
The Minority Leader said the NPP was not seeking immunity from lawful investigations and would not defend impunity, but insisted that accountability must be pursued in accordance with the law.
He also said the coercive powers of the state should not be used to intimidate legitimate political opposition.
Other issues discussed included the impact of social media on children, regulation of artificial intelligence, narcotics trafficking, religious freedom, mission schools and long-term national development planning.
On the National Cathedral, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the government’s renewed engagement with the project provided an opportunity to explore a transparent, Christian-led private financing model that would avoid imposing additional construction costs on taxpayers.
He also briefed the Council on the NPP’s recent National Delegates Conference and sought prayers for the party’s newly elected national officers, as well as for leaders across the country regardless of political affiliation.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Christian Council commended the Minority for continuing to discharge its constitutional mandate despite being in the minority in Parliament.
He said the Council indicated that the issues raised at the meeting would, where appropriate, be referred to relevant bodies within the Church for consideration and possible action.
The Minority Leader said the engagement reinforced the need for credible national institutions to remain willing to listen, speak and act in the national interest.
See the statement below:
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