Tensions within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus are becoming increasingly visible, raising questions about the party’s ability to hold the government accountable. Minority Leader, Osahene Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has cautioned MPs that internal divisions are undermining their effectiveness and placing the burden of disunity on the people they represent.
During a caucus meeting at Job 600 on Thursday, November 13, Afenyo-Markin stressed that the greatest threat to the caucus is not the Majority bench, but their own lack of cohesion. “We are not here by accident. We are here by choice,” he reminded MPs, urging them to prioritize unity above personal ambition.
The Minority Leader painted a stark picture of a divided caucus inadvertently aiding the government. “The Majority sits across from us with one agenda: to suppress our views, to silence our expression, to render us irrelevant. And what are we doing? We are doing their work for them. We bicker. We backbite. We whisper in corridors instead of roaring in this chamber,” he lamented.
While emphasizing that disagreements are natural, Afenyo-Markin insisted they should never compromise the caucus’s responsibility to the Ghanaian people. He further accused the government of economic mismanagement, abuse of state institutions, and increasing public frustration, warning that only a united Minority can confront these challenges effectively.
The recent tensions raise questions about the underlying causes of the infighting and the strength of Afenyo-Markin’s leadership. Could personal ambitions ahead of the 2028 presidential primaries be contributing to the divisions? Are MPs supporting different aspirants, creating quiet rival blocs within the caucus? Could disagreements over strategy, policy, or parliamentary priorities also be fueling the discord? Is the Minority Leader losing influence, or is this simply the turbulence that comes with political competition?
As the NPP Minority navigates these internal dynamics, the answers to these questions will determine whether the caucus can remain a united and credible voice in Parliament or whether disunity will continue to define its role.
Written by Doe Benjamin Kofi Lawson