Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has challenged the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to uphold the same standards of accountability and transparency it demanded of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The Effutu Member of Parliament accused the NDC of applying double standards to public accountability, arguing that the party should not regard criticism of government decisions as political hostility after spending eight years in opposition demanding scrutiny of those in power.
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His comments come amid growing criticism from the Minority Caucus over the government’s handling of the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, particularly questions surrounding the reported GH¢49.72 million expenditure on the exercise.
The Minority has raised concerns about alleged discrepancies in payment registers, duplicate entries and gaps in supporting documentation relating to the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians.
The opposition caucus has called for an independent audit of the expenditure and demanded the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. It has also threatened to pursue a vote of censure against the minister if he remains in office.
In a Facebook post on Friday, October 30, Afenyo-Markin said the NDC could not consistently demand accountability while in opposition and become uncomfortable with similar scrutiny after assuming power.
“The NDC spent eight years teaching Ghanaians that questioning government was patriotism. Today, the same people appear offended that Ghanaians have taken those lessons seriously,” he wrote.
The Minority Leader questioned whether the standards of accountability has changed simply because political power had shifted from the NPP to the NDC.
“Apparently, accountability was a democratic virtue when the NPP was in power, but it has suddenly become political persecution now that the NDC occupies the seat of government,” he stated.
Afenyo-Markin recalled that the NDC, during its time in opposition, scrutinised government contracts, challenged appointments, questioned public expenditure and demanded explanations for policy decisions under the Akufo-Addo administration.
He argued that the same level of scrutiny should apply to the current government, insisting that questioning public expenditure and demanding transparency are fundamental democratic responsibilities.
“Public office is not a personal possession; it is a public trust. Holding office does not grant anyone immunity from criticism. Questioning a contract is not a personal attack on the person who approved it. Demanding transparency is not an expression of hatred. Asking government to honour its promises is not an attempt to undermine it. It is simply democracy at work,” he said.
The Minority Leader pledged that the opposition would continue examining government contracts, scrutinising public expenditure and assessing the performance of the Mahama administration against its promises.
“The Mighty Minority will continue to read the documents, examine the contracts, question public expenditure, and measure government promises against actual performance,” he added.
He maintained that the NDC must be prepared to operate under the same accountability standards it advocated while in opposition, stressing that the Minority would not abandon its oversight responsibilities.
“The standard members of the NDC demanded when they were in opposition should be the same standard they must live by, and we, the Mighty Minority, will not renege,” Afenyo-Markin stated.