Ghana's political arena has long suffered from a dangerous mindset: the view that public office is a reward rather than a responsibility.
And Alexander Afenyo-Markin's recently repeated warning to NDC MPs about John Dramani Mahama's promise of 60 ministers perfectly illustrates this warped perspective Speaking at the dissolution of the 8th Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin warned that many NDC MPs would find themselves without ministerial appointments due to Mahama's commitment to reducing the size of government. Now in the corridors of Ghana's Parliament House, where political posturing and rhetorical sparring are as routine as tea breaks, Afenyo-Markin's comments could be swept under the bus as just that.
But no, this reveals more about him and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). His assertion that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs should be worried about President (yes, President because I am tired of writing President-elect, when in a few hours, he would be handed the role fully) John Dramani Mahama's promise to run a lean government with only 60 ministers is not just a casual political jab - it is a glaring exposé of the warped mentality that has plagued Ghana's political class, particularly within the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
NPP's Afenyo-Markin has retained his seat in the 2024 General Elections and is likely to reminder the leader of the NPP's side in parliament The Effutu MP laid out a grim arithmetic for his political opponents: with 16 regional ministers already taking up positions, that would leave only 44 spots for other appointments, creating fierce competition within the NDC ranks.
