The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has launched a scathing rebuttal against the Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, asserting that he is unqualified to lecture the NDC on democracy.
Asiedu Nketiah’s comments came during a press conference on Friday, December 13, 2024, following Afenyo-Markin’s accusation that the NDC leadership was deliberately obstructing the recollation exercise at the Tesano Police Training School. Afenyo-Markin, in an earlier interview, had urged the NDC to respect the Electoral Commission (EC) and adhere to due process to facilitate the exercise.
Responding to these claims, Asiedu Nketiah dismissed the remarks as baseless and an attempt to shift focus from the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) shortcomings.
“I heard Afenyo-Markin, who has rejected the position of a minority leader, is now on his way to becoming a micro-minority leader, bragging that he belongs to a party of the rule of law,” Asiedu Nketiah said.
He continued, “Who doesn’t know the NPP? We in the National Democratic Congress do not need lectures from Afenyo-Markin about democracy at all. Indeed, if there were any need for lectures in impunity, then we would invite him as a lecturer, but if it is about democracy, he must shut up.”
The NDC chairman further defended his party’s actions during the recollation process, stating that they were well within their rights and committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
Asiedu Nketiah’s strong words highlight the growing tensions between the NPP and NDC as post-election processes unfold. The recollection exercise, supervised by the Electoral Commission, remains a focal point of contention, with both parties trading accusations over its handling.
The recollection process at the Tesano Police Training School has been mired in disagreements, with the NDC raising concerns about the integrity of the exercise. Afenyo-Markin, representing the NPP, has criticized the NDC’s approach, calling for adherence to due process to ensure the process proceeds smoothly.
Meanwhile, the NDC has maintained that its actions are aimed at safeguarding the democratic will of the people and has accused the NPP of engaging in underhanded tactics to undermine the process.
The heated exchange underscores the polarized political atmosphere in the aftermath of Ghana’s 2024 elections, with both parties seeking to solidify their positions amid public scrutiny.