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Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has strongly called on President John Dramani Mahama’s administration to focus on finding solutions to Ghana’s energy crisis rather than shifting the blame for the looming challenges onto the previous government.
His comments came during the vetting of ministerial nominees in Parliament on January 13, 2025, where he urged the government to prioritise practical actions over revisiting past failures.
“It is deeply concerning to hear the new administration attempting to shift blame,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin stated, addressing members of the House. “The outgoing government, despite challenges, maintained a stable and reliable power supply. This stands in contrast to the Mahama administration’s notorious ‘Dumsor’ era, which caused immense hardship to businesses and households.”
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The minority leader’s remarks pointed to the stark differences between the current energy situation and the previous government’s record on power supply.
He argued that the Mahama administration had suffered from years of power shortages, known as the “Dumsor” era, which severely affected the economy and daily life in Ghana.
Afenyo-Markin emphasised that the people of Ghana had voted for the government to lead, solve the problems of today, and ensure sustainable progress.
He expressed his belief that focusing on assigning blame would not solve the country’s energy issues.
“The government must take responsibility and lead the way forward,” he stressed. “We need leadership that prioritises action over rhetoric, responsibility over deflection, and results over excuses.”
The minority leader called on the nominee for energy, if approved, to present a clear and actionable plan for addressing the country’s energy needs. He emphasised that Ghanaians deserved an uninterrupted power supply and that the current administration must focus on implementing sustainable solutions, rather than revisiting past issues.
“It is time for the government to move beyond excuses and present real solutions,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin said, adding that the country’s future energy policies must ensure that the nation’s power supply is stable and reliable.
Afenyo-Markin also expressed his concerns about the government’s stance on key campaign promises, particularly regarding the scrapping of the E-Levy and betting taxes. He accused the government of backtracking on its promises to remove these taxes, calling it a betrayal of the trust that voters had placed in them.
“Campaign promises are not conditional. They form the foundation of a social contract between leaders and the electorate,” he said. “Any attempt to alter those commitments after assuming office undermines public trust.”
The minority leader warned that the government should not backpedal on its promises, stressing that the finance minister nominee must take immediate steps to fulfil these commitments. He further called for these promises to be reflected in the President’s budget and economic policy statement to Parliament.
“The people of Ghana deserve a government that honours its promises fully and without hesitation,” Afenyo-Markin concluded, vowing that the opposition would hold the government accountable for its actions. “We will hold the government to its word, and we expect no excuses.”
