The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of double standards on government accountability, arguing that the party appears uncomfortable with the same level of scrutiny it championed during its eight years in opposition.
In a Facebook post on Friday, October 30, 2026, Afenyo-Markin questioned the NDC’s attitude towards criticism since assuming office, recalling how the party consistently demanded accountability from the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
“The NDC spent eight years teaching Ghanaians that questioning government was patriotism. Today, the same people appear offended that Ghanaians have taken those lessons seriously,” he wrote.
He argued that accountability, which the NDC previously described as a democratic virtue when the NPP was in power, now appeared to be treated as political persecution.
“Apparently, accountability was a democratic virtue when the NPP was in power, but it has suddenly become political persecution now that the NDC occupies the seat of government,” he stated.
The Minority Leader accused some members of the governing party of responding to criticism by questioning the motives of their critics, resorting to insults and portraying legitimate scrutiny as political hostility rather than addressing the issues raised.
He cited the NDC’s record in opposition, noting that the party scrutinised government contracts, challenged appointments, interrogated public expenditure and questioned government promises during the Akufo-Addo administration.
“They called it patriotism. They insisted that no government should be above scrutiny and that public officials must be held accountable,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin questioned whether the standards of accountability had changed simply because the political party in government had changed, or whether scrutiny was only acceptable when directed at the NPP.
He further maintained that the NDC’s previous positions on accountability remained accessible through its interviews, press conferences, public statements and social media publications, urging Ghanaians to revisit them.
“It is unreasonable to champion accountability for eight years and then treat it as an act of hostility when the same principle is applied to you,” he added.
Emphasising the responsibility that comes with public office, Afenyo-Markin said government officials must remain open to criticism and scrutiny.
“Public office is not a personal possession; it is a public trust. Holding office does not grant anyone immunity from criticism,” he stated.
He added that questioning a contract should not be regarded as a personal attack on the official who approved it, while demands for transparency and calls for government to fulfil its promises should not be interpreted as expressions of hatred or attempts to undermine the administration.
“It is simply democracy at work,” he said.
The Minority Leader also reaffirmed the Minority’s commitment to its parliamentary oversight responsibilities, declaring that its members would continue examining government documents, scrutinising contracts, questioning public expenditure and assessing government promises against actual performance.
“The Mighty Minority will continue to read the documents, examine the contracts, question public expenditure, and measure government promises against actual performance,” he wrote.
He stressed that the Minority’s approach was not about opposing the NDC for its own sake but ensuring that accountability remained a consistent democratic principle, irrespective of the political party in power.
Afenyo-Markin insisted that the governing party must be prepared to accept the same standards it demanded from the Akufo-Addo administration when it was in opposition.
“If members of the NDC were right to demand accountability from the Akufo-Addo government, then they must be prepared to accept it now that they are in office,” he stated.
Concluding his post, he declared that the Minority would not abandon its scrutiny of the government, insisting that the standards of accountability must remain unchanged regardless of who occupies the Presidency.
“The standard members of the NDC demanded when they were in opposition should be the same standard they must live by, and we, the Mighty Minority, will not renege!!” he added.
