Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has delivered a stinging critique of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, branding it the “60–40 administration” in a sweeping condemnation of what he called hypocrisy, political doublespeak, and state-enabled illegality.
Speaking during the conclusion of the debate on the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on Thursday, July 31, Afenyo-Markin accused the Mahama-led government of benefiting from tough economic reforms introduced by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, while simultaneously discrediting the same measures in public.
“You mess up the economy, you mess up the banking sector. Then you claim we messed it up. ‘60–40’ is what you are called on the streets of Accra. That is your new name—60–40. Give me 60, take 40,” he declared, suggesting the government is now seen as transactional and internally divided over power-sharing.
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He criticised the administration for allegedly weaponising the justice system, claiming the government is protecting its loyalists while prosecuting former officials of the previous regime.
“Instead of recovering stolen assets and reinvesting in national development, the government is shielding its finances and persecuting NPP appointees,” he alleged.
Afenyo-Markin rejected accusations that the NPP mismanaged the economy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He defended the increase in the 2020 fiscal deficit to 17% of GDP, insisting it was a necessary response to protect lives and livelihoods.
He pointed out that the NPP government reduced the budget deficit from 9.3% in 2016 to around 6% by 2017 and maintained it near 5% through 2019. While acknowledging the rise in public debt, he blamed inherited liabilities such as take-or-pay energy contracts signed under the Mahama administration.
The Minority Leader also dismissed the Finance Minister’s claim that public debt had dropped by GH¢113.7 billion within six months. He argued that the improvement was the result of NPP-led reforms, including a $5 billion external debt forgiveness initiative and $4.7 billion in debt service savings, achieved before the NDC took office.
“The current administration merely stepped into an improving situation engineered by its predecessors,” he said, citing key NPP interventions such as the Fiscal Responsibility Act, Energy Sector Levy Act, and the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme as evidence of responsible economic stewardship.
“We are proud we took such decisions,” he added.
Turning to illegal mining, Afenyo-Markin intensified his attacks, accusing the government of using the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to legitimise and promote galamsey operations. He said the administration had sidelined farmers and endangered national food security in favour of illegal mining.
“The government has now legitimised galamsey, as Gold Board is actively purchasing from and encouraging these operations,” he alleged.
He referenced statements from organised labour during May Day celebrations and from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, both of which criticised the government’s handling of the galamsey crisis, particularly in the Western Region.
“Galamsey activities have worsened under this government, especially within the first five months of their administration,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin also decried what he described as the government’s neglect of Ghana’s unemployed youth, citing an alarming jobless rate of over 30%. He criticised the 2025 budget’s GH¢0.5 billion allocation for job creation as grossly inadequate.
“That’s a pittance that insults over three million unemployed young Ghanaians,” he said. “Without economic legitimacy, the youth are easily lured into criminal gangs and illegal mining.”
His fiery remarks intensified partisan tensions in Parliament and further fuelled national debate over the government’s economic credibility, anti-corruption record, and commitment to environmental protection.