Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has expressed the opposition’s readiness to collaborate with the government—provided that such engagements are conducted with mutual respect and adhere to democratic principles.
His comments come in response to a recent operation by officers from the National Investigations Bureau (NIB), who reportedly stormed the residence of Assin South MP, Ntim Fordjour, to execute an arrest warrant.
Speaking to the media shortly after the incident, Afenyo-Markin condemned the government’s handling of the matter, describing the dawn raid—carried out by more than 20 armed personnel—as excessive and intimidating. He cautioned that such tactics threaten to erode the country’s democratic progress.
“We’ve been part of this democratic journey for years. What happened this morning should not become part of the government’s legacy. Four years may seem distant, but it’s closer than it looks,” he remarked.
He defended the actions of Rev. Ntim Fordjour, noting that the MP was merely voicing concerns on behalf of the Minority Caucus and should not be targeted or used to suppress opposing views. “The reverend is not alone. He hasn’t walked alone, and he will never walk alone,” Afenyo-Markin declared.
The Minority Leader stressed that dissent in a democracy is not a crime. “If the government disagrees with a viewpoint, it should respond with dialogue—not force. You don’t send armed men to apprehend a sitting Member of Parliament. That’s not the way. If there’s a disagreement, let’s talk,” he said.
He further revealed that the MP had called for a bipartisan probe into the matter and urged all parties to commit to transparency and constructive engagement. “Enough is enough. Let’s stop this. Let’s engage. We are all political actors,” he emphasized.
Afenyo-Markin also called on the government to redirect its attention to pressing national issues such as unemployment and illegal mining (galamsey), areas where he believes there has been a lack of meaningful progress.
“We remain open to cooperation, but only if it’s approached with decency. We will not be intimidated,” he concluded, warning that continued state overreach could ultimately backfire on the government.
