Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of taking public goodwill for granted, warning that growing dissatisfaction over unemployment, unpaid salaries, and rising business costs is eroding public confidence.
He condemned what he described as arbitrary dismissals in state-owned enterprises following the change of government, alleging that workers employed as far back as 2017 and 2018 were affected, despite directives meant to target only post-election recruitments.
Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, the Effutu MP challenged government officials to provide credible data to back claims of job creation and economic progress.
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He argued that whenever the administration finds itself in a tight corner, it resorts to the optics of anti-corruption, often by arresting a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to create a narrative of accountability.
Dismissing the current discourse as mere sloganising, Afenyo-Markin turned his attention to the proposed 24-hour economy and the Women’s Bank, pointing out that despite the rhetoric, the necessary legislative framework remains non-existent.
As an entrepreneur, he challenged the government’s approach, insisting that a 24-hour economy does not require a bloated new bureaucracy but rather a strategic set of incentives to propel growth.
“You don’t need a bureaucracy,” he stressed, noting that the focus should be on practical enablers rather than administrative hurdles.
According to him, the most critical pillar for private sector expansion is the cost of energy. He maintained that if the government is serious about encouraging economic activity, it must first address the high cost and reliability of electricity, which he described as key determinants of whether a 24-hour business model can succeed.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin also called on government representatives to publicly account for employment figures they are claiming, particularly in the health and education sectors.
“Over 13,000 nurses may have been employed, but many more who completed training as far back as 2023 are still waiting for posting,” he said. He added that several teachers and public sector workers recruited in 2024 and 2025 have gone unpaid for over a year.
He further alleged that institutions such as the Electricity Company of Ghana and Ghana Grid Company, along with other public agencies, carried out widespread terminations, leaving many families without livelihoods.
The Minority Leader argued that any procedural errors in recruitment should have been addressed through administrative measures rather than mass dismissals.
“If there were excesses, rectify and ratify them. Don’t punish people who are feeding their families,” he stressed, adding that such actions contradict government claims of massive job creation.
He dismissed claims that the government has created one million jobs, describing them as unconvincing.
“Where are the major construction projects? Where is the breakdown? We need evidence, not slogans,” he said, cautioning that temporary or short-term engagements should not be presented as sustainable employment.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin also urged the government to grant meaningful tax reliefs and import incentives to enable businesses to reinvest and expand. He cited the One District, One Factory initiative as an example of a policy implemented without creating a separate authority, arguing that similar approaches could be adopted for new programmes.
While acknowledging the constitutional requirement for accountability, he warned against what he described as selective arrests and politically motivated prosecutions. He insisted that anti-corruption efforts must be fair, transparent, and devoid of partisan considerations.
He cautioned that the administration of President John Dramani Mahama risks losing public goodwill if it continues to prioritise public relations over concrete action.
“The young people are tired of singing slogans. They want jobs, opportunities, and results. Government must move beyond talk and deliver,” he stated.