The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on the government to adopt the role of an economic enabler rather than a controller, arguing that sustainable development flourishes when private enterprise and human capital take centre stage.
Speaking at the launch of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) chapter of the Young Commons Forum (YCF) last Saturday, the Effutu MP cautioned against what he described as excessive state control of economic activity.
“The state creates conditions for production while individuals and firms generate value,” Mr Afenyo-Markin stated, anchoring his argument in the ideological foundations of the centre‑right tradition.
24‑Hour Economy dismissed as ‘slogan’
The Minority Leader launched a scathing critique of the government’s flagship 24‑Hour Economy policy, describing it as bureaucratic and lacking substance.
“Today, the government has rather created a bureaucracy for its so‑called 24‑Hour Economy policy, and to our mind, this 24‑Hour Economy is more of a slogan than a policy,” he said.
Mr Afenyo‑Markin accused the administration of prioritising rhetoric over results since assuming power just over a year ago. He highlighted unfulfilled promises including the “one job, three shifts” initiative under the 24‑Hour Economy, the proposed Women’s Bank, and a pledge to increase cocoa producer prices to GH¢6,000 per tonne.
“Unemployment is on the rise, and today this government has failed to implement its own flagship initiative. The Women’s Bank has also not seen the light of day. While the government talks about inflation levels having come down, the ordinary Ghanaian is going through a crisis,” he asserted.
Ideological foundations
Tracing the evolution of Ghana’s centre‑right political tradition, the Minority Leader noted its roots in early nationalist movements such as the United Gold Coast Convention through to its modern expression in the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He explained that the ideology rests on four pillars: constitutionalism, property ownership, decentralisation and market‑led development. Successive political movements, he argued, had built upon these foundations to shape democratic governance.
“Understanding ideology is essential to assessing governance performance and ensuring accountability within Ghana’s constitutional democracy,” Mr Afenyo‑Markin said.
Property‑owning democracy defended
The Effutu lawmaker defended the concept of a property‑owning democracy as a development strategy that balances economic freedom with targeted social support.
He argued that social interventions should be viewed as investments in human capability rather than welfare dependency, rejecting claims that such policies contradict centre‑right ideology.
Citing past NPP interventions including the National Health Insurance Scheme, Free Senior High School, Free TVET, One District One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, and pension reforms, Mr Afenyo‑Markin said these programmes demonstrated ideological continuity.
“These interventions lifted children from disadvantaged backgrounds into the human capital pipeline necessary for elite participation in economic and civil life by keeping children in school, improving nutrition and reducing household cost burdens,” he stated.
Criticism of NDC policies
The Minority Leader drew sharp contrasts between NPP and NDC governance records, pointing to recent fiscal measures introduced by the current administration.
He noted that although the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government repealed the Electronic Transfer Levy upon taking office, it subsequently introduced a levy of one cedi per litre of petrol, implemented what he termed a “Doomsday levy”, and increased electricity tariffs by nearly 30 per cent.
“Above all, today, the suffering cocoa farmer is at the receiving end,” Mr Afenyo‑Markin added.
Call to youth
Addressing the newly inaugurated YCF executives led by John Noble, the Minority Leader urged them to rise above ethnic and religious divisions, drawing inspiration from former Vice‑President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s example of unity.
The UCC Students’ Representative Council, led by Kwame Ntiamoah Ntim, presented a citation to Mr Afenyo‑Markin in recognition of his contributions to national development and his alma mater.
The Young Commons Forum aims to provide a platform for youth engagement on leadership, governance and democracy while encouraging students to embrace innovation and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
