Deputy Minority Leader and Asokwa MP Patricia Appiagyei has warned that any attempt to remove Alexander Afenyo-Markin as Minority Leader in Parliament would trigger strong public resistance.
She has defended Afenyo-Markin’s leadership of the Minority Caucus, describing him as a courageous, intelligent and wise leader whose performance in Parliament has strengthened the caucus and enhanced the appeal of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking on Atumpan on AsaasePa 107.3, hosted by Bonohene Baffour Awuah, Appiagyei said she had neither heard nor seen any move to remove the Minority Leader but cautioned against any such attempt.
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“I haven’t heard nor seen it. But any attempt to remove Afenyo-Markin will incur the wrath of Ghanaians. Because he is a man of wisdom, courage and has intelligence to steer the affairs of the caucus and this is shaping us and by extension made the NPP attractive,” she said.
Her comments come amid reports of tensions surrounding the leadership of the Minority Caucus, with the Asokwa MP expressing confidence in Afenyo-Markin’s leadership and the support he enjoys among NPP lawmakers.
Appiagyei maintained that the Minority Leader has earned the affection of many Ghanaians, particularly NPP supporters, through his commitment to the caucus and his approach to parliamentary business.
The Deputy Minority Leader also described Afenyo-Markin’s personal commitment to improving the performance of members of the Minority Caucus as unmatched.
According to her, the Minority Leader has used his personal resources to organise training programmes for caucus members to strengthen their parliamentary work and improve their contributions in the House.
She said the initiative was not a one-off exercise, claiming that Afenyo-Markin had supported such training on several occasions.
“He came in as a courageous and certain honesty and he is very intelligent and that is why he has succeeded in parliament. What I want to tell you is that he is loved by Ghanaians, especially the NPP,” Appiagyei said.
“He has been able to use his own resources to train us so we can deliver in the House, and this is not the first time; it has occurred several times… And that is the man I am talking about,” she added.
Appiagyei did not confirm that a formal move had been initiated to replace him. Instead, she stressed that his leadership qualities, parliamentary experience and support for fellow MPs made him an important figure within the caucus.
The Minority Leader, who represents Effutu in Parliament, remains a prominent figure in the NPP’s parliamentary opposition, where his role includes coordinating the caucus’s response to government policies and holding the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration accountable.