Getting heard in Parliament currently is difficult – Afenyo-Markin

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has expressed concerns about the difficulty of getting his party's voice heard in Parliament due to the majority's numerical advantage. In an interview on Joy News' The Probe, he stated that the Minority must work harder to ensure its views are heard despite having fewer MPs. With the Majority holding 189 seats, Afenyo-Markin highlighted the challenge of being in opposition and needing to work hard with his colleagues to make sure the Minority's voice is heard.

He pointed out the leadership of Parliament as another factor making the Minority's task more difficult. The Speaker, who does not belong to the Minority's party, and the First Deputy, who is part of the Majority, both present obstacles for the Minority. Afenyo-Markin emphasized that the Minority needs to adopt a deliberate approach to its work in Parliament, requiring hard work, determination, and a focused strategy.

Despite having fewer MPs, Afenyo-Markin insisted that the Minority is not intimidated by its current numbers. He reminded that the NPP has previously operated in Parliament with a smaller representation and managed to grow its numbers. He cited the Second Parliament, where the NPP had 61 MPs against the NDC's 133, and how the NPP increased its representation to 102 by the 2000 election.

Afenyo-Markin emphasized that the current 87-member Minority will not be discouraged by the numbers and that their strength should be measured by the quality of their contribution rather than their numbers. He concluded by stating that the Minority will not be intimidated by the numbers and that people must see substance in their work.