Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, Minority Leader in Parliament, has revealed that he never planned to get into politics.
According to Afenyo-Markin, he entered politics accidentally, revealing that his original ambition was to become a successful entrepreneur, practice law and eventually become a judge.
The Minority leader disclosed that he had not planned to become a politician until his former primary school classmates approached him while he was in his final year at law school.
Speaking during a visit by some members of the Anlo community on October 14, 2026, “That very evening, they came from Winneba and told me that the one who won the primaries for NPP has stepped down because the daughter had died, and he said because of juju, he could not pursue that ambition again. And our classmates were calling for me.
“I didn’t plan to get into politics. My plan was to become a lawyer, run my business, run a law firm, and later in life become a judge”, he narrated.
He further revealed that his interest in becoming a judge was inspired by his reading about prominent jurists, recalling that the former Supreme Court Justice William Atuguba had encouraged him on several occasions to leave politics and pursue a career on the bench.
Afenyo-Markin stated, “Reading about the Lord Dennings and the Atkinsons and Wilberforce and all those great jurists, I really wanted to be on the bench. And in fact, even to date, I don’t know what my Lord Atuguba saw in me”.
“But back in the days when I was doing a lot of Supreme Court practice, you know, he would send his usher to call me after court, to his office, to his chambers, and say, Afenyo, why don’t you stop this politics and become a judge? I want you on the bench”.
Meanwhile, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin says he has discharged his duties with the dignity and responsibility demanded by the office, mindful of the NPP’s long political history and the trust placed in him by the party’s elders.
Afenyo-Markin also dismissed claims of compromising videos or audios, saying he will not do anything to embarrass himself, his family or the party.
According to Afenyo-Markin, while he is not perfect, he cannot be reckless as he knows what to do.
Speaking during a solidarity visit by Asafo companies and cultural troupes from Winneba (Effutu) to his Accra residence on August 31, 2026, Afenyo-Markin stated, “I have discharged my duty as Minority Leader with all the dignity that must go with the office. I sit on a seat that JB Danquah, JH Mensah, Busia, Dombo, Kyei Mensah‑Bonsu, and Paapa Owusu‑Ankomah sat on. I don’t take NPP for granted. It’s a tradition I respect.”
“From day one, they entrusted me with this position. I have always acknowledged the weight of history to do what is right. I’m not a perfect guy. But I won’t be reckless. I know what I have to do”.
He further urged the public to ignore reports of alleged audio or video evidence purportedly connecting him to extortion.
“So people talking about they have videos and audio — some are playing games on social media. Nobody has any video of me doing anything. Nobody has any audio of me doing anything to embarrass myself, my family, and the party. There’s nothing like that anywhere. But it’s a social media era, so as a politician I have to accept some of these things. It will come my way,” he added.
However, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has accused Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin of resorting to “takashi” in Parliament because the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is “limping.”
According to Dr Ato Forson, although he disagrees with Afenyo-Markin’s approach, he acknowledges that the Minority Leader faces a difficult task due to the NPP’s lack of numbers in Parliament.
Ato Forson noted that the numerical disadvantage of the Minority explains the approach adopted by Afenyo-Markin in parliamentary proceedings.
Speaking on Ahenfie TV, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson stated, “Kwamena, we are all Central Region politicians; I have the privilege of being a minority leader representing my party in parliament. He has also had his chance to be the leader of his party and also minority leader. I have been there before.
Sometimes I look back and say I think we are privileged, the two of us, to lead our party in parliament”.
He added, “I disagree with him on a number of things that he does. I have always told him in the face. But I also recognised that he has a big task because his party is limping.
The NPP party is limping, and the party, looking at their record, they do not have any record, so they are using ‘takashi’ sayings or sort of things just to try to rebrand the party. So I can only understand him. he is using Takashi just to make sure his party get the necessary rebranding.
If you go to parliament, also their number have become Nkoko Nkitinkiti, a very small group of people, while we are very big. They don’t have the numbers also”.
Ato Forson further recounted that the NDC also faced a similar crisis and needed to rebrand, saying, “When the NDC went into opposition in 2017, we faced a similar crisis and needed to rebrand under Haruna Iddrisu; I was ranking member of the Finance Committee, and I had to put up a fight; it was tough, but gradually Ghanaians began to listen to us.
They will get there one day; I don’t know when”, he added.
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