Political class must help deal with impunity in society – Afenyo-Markin

The Majority Leader in Parliament and New Patriotic Party MP for Effutu in the Central Region, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has bemoaned the seeming indifference of the political class in helping to curb impunity in society.

Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday (3 July 2024), the Majority Leader said that despite Ghana’s enviable record in preserving peace and democracy on the African continent, crude politics has taken centre stage, relegating important matters of development to the sidelines.

“Ghana has long been celebrated as a beacon of democracy and stability in Africa, a testament to the resilience of our institutions and the activism of our political class. However, beneath this grace lies an emerging reality: the detrimental effects of our politics.

Stifled potential of youth

“The political class is increasingly consumed by a desire to outdo each other, leading to measures aimed more at undermining opponents than fostering national progress,” Afenyo-Markin said.

“While the political elite focuses on electoral battles and building political capital, a significant portion of the population, including the youth, is being left behind. Consequently, the demographic potential of our youth, often praised as a critical driver of development, remains largely untapped,” he said.

“Entrepreneurship and employment opportunities are scarce, and even those few opportunities face challenges. Our artisans, often criticised for their work attitude, are losing jobs in the construction sector to artisans from neighbouring countries, even for basic tasks we once took for granted.

“The potential for entrepreneurship is further diminished as people increasingly prefer to invest in the money market, deterred by the prevailing work attitudes from setting up businesses,” he said.

Although the government has addressed these challenges significantly through social intervention programmes, the Effutu MP said, that alone cannot eradicate the challenges aforementioned. He emphasised that there is a need for the political class to unite to deal with such issues.

“However, these initiatives alone, without the united support of the political class, may fall short of delivering the comprehensive results needed, resulting in counterproductive outcomes to our reasonable gains over the years.”

Warning signs from Kenya

Continuing, Honourable Afenyo-Markin said that failure to fight impunity head on and with a united front could cause civil upheaval in Ghana. He cited the recent chaotic political situation in Kenya as an example.

“The consequences may be dire for our stability. Throughout history, frustration and disillusionment among the masses, including the youth, have led to significant social and political unrest. The recent Gen Z activism in Kenya serves as a stark warning.”

To prevent such scenarios in Ghana, he said, it is imperative that the political class collaboratively take proactive and comprehensive measures to address the underlying causes of public discontent.

“Our preoccupation with political manoeuvring should not blind us to the reality of public expectations,” the Majority Leader cautioned.

“Let us all recommit to a national agenda that not only leverages the potential of our youth but also unlocks the massive development potential often associated with the demographic dividend,” he urged.

Reporting by Wilberforce Asare in Accra

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