Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and rein in certain elements within his government following the attempted arrest of Assin South MP, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, by operatives of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Midday News on Thursday, April 10, Afenyo-Markin expressed concern over what he described as intimidation tactics being used by some government officials against political opponents.
“The government has explained its side of the story. If you disagree with the proposal that there should be a bipartisan committee, if you disagree that there should be a commission of inquiry, so be it. You are a government, but you don’t, through your agents or officials, threaten the Member of Parliament and put him through such trauma. We don’t need it, and I will call on His Excellency the President to call these hawks in the government to order. We don’t need them,” he said.
He urged President Mahama to help end what he termed a “vicious political cycle” of targeting opponents, emphasizing that governance must focus on addressing the needs of the people rather than persecuting political rivals.
Afenyo-Markin warned that such actions risk reintroducing a culture of fear reminiscent of the PNDC era, marked by political arrests and suppression.
“Four years may seem far away, but it may be nearer than we think. We must break this vicious cycle as a political class and focus on real issues of governance so that the people will benefit from it,” he added.
The Minority Leader also hinted at what he described as clandestine plots against the Chief Justice and other high-profile individuals, suggesting that the Minority is aware of these schemes and will respond appropriately.