The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has strongly criticized Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, for what he described as unwarranted democracy lessons aimed at the NDC. His comments came in response to remarks made by Afenyo-Markin during an interview on December 12, where the Majority Leader accused the NDC leadership of deliberately hindering the re-collation exercise at the Tesano Police Training School.
Afenyo-Markin had urged the NDC to respect the Electoral Commission (EC) and adhere to due process to ensure the smooth re-collation of electoral results. He alleged that the opposition party’s actions were obstructing the EC’s efforts to complete the re-collation process.
However, addressing the press on December 13, Asiedu Nketiah rejected these claims, insisting that the NDC was acting within its rights and had not engaged in any unlawful activities. The veteran politician took a firm stance, stating that Afenyo-Markin was in no position to lecture the NDC on matters of democracy.
"I listened to Afenyo-Markin, who appears to be transitioning from rejecting the position of Minority Leader to what I would call a micro-minority leader, making bold claims about belonging to a party of the rule of law. Who doesn’t know the true nature of the NPP?" Asiedu Nketiah quipped.
He went on to question Afenyo-Markin’s authority on democracy, adding, "We in the National Democratic Congress do not need democracy lectures from him. If there’s any subject where he could offer insight, it would be impunity. On that, we might invite him as a lecturer. But when it comes to democracy, he should keep quiet."
Asiedu Nketiah’s remarks underline the NDC’s discontent with recent developments surrounding the 2024 elections, particularly the contentious re-collation exercise.
The re-collation at the Tesano Police Training School has drawn significant attention from political stakeholders. While the Electoral Commission has maintained that the process is within legal bounds, the NDC argues otherwise, labeling the exercise as an attempt to undermine the electoral process.
Asiedu Nketiah dismissed the narrative that the NDC was obstructing the EC. "Our actions are guided by the law, and we are committed to defending the will of the people. We will not stand by while others try to manipulate the system under the guise of democracy," he said.
The NDC has also taken legal steps to address what they perceive as irregularities in the electoral process. On December 13, the party secured a court injunction to halt the re-collation exercise in Nsawam-Adoagyiri, signaling their intent to challenge any perceived violations of electoral procedures.
Afenyo-Markin’s call for the NDC to cooperate with the EC was met with widespread criticism from NDC supporters, who believe the Majority Leader’s comments were an attempt to undermine their concerns. Many within the party view the re-collation exercise as an illegality designed to favor the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Political analysts have noted that the ongoing disputes between the NDC and the NPP reflect the high stakes of the 2024 elections. The re-collation process, initially proposed by the EC to address discrepancies in the electoral results, has become a flashpoint in the broader contest between Ghana’s two major political parties.
Asiedu Nketiah’s latest remarks add another layer to the already heated political climate. By challenging Afenyo-Markin’s authority on democracy, the NDC Chairman has drawn attention to what he perceives as hypocrisy within the NPP.
"The NDC’s commitment to democracy is unquestionable," Asiedu Nketiah stated. "We have a long history of defending democratic principles and will continue to do so, even in the face of unwarranted criticism and baseless accusations."
The NDC leader’s fiery comments have sparked reactions across the political spectrum. Supporters of the NPP have defended Afenyo-Markin, arguing that his remarks were aimed at promoting transparency and accountability. Meanwhile, NDC loyalists have rallied behind Asiedu Nketiah, praising his bold stance against what they see as attempts to distort the electoral process.
As the 2024 elections approach, the tensions between Ghana’s political parties are expected to escalate further. Issues like the re-collation exercise at the Tesano Police Training School are likely to remain at the forefront of political discourse, shaping the narrative around one of Ghana’s most closely watched elections in recent history.
For now, the NDC remains firm in its position, with Asiedu Nketiah making it clear that the party will not tolerate any perceived infringements on democracy. Whether these disputes will ultimately influence the outcome of the elections remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the political temperature in Ghana is set to remain high in the coming months.
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