The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, interrupted the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, during his secondment of the motion for the adjournment of the House after President John Dramani Mahama’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
Following the president’s address, both the Majority and Minority Leaders were allowed a brief moment to give some quick comments, even as they moved a motion for the adjournment of proceedings, ahead of more in-depth debates in subsequent days.
Taking his turn after the Majority Leader had move the motion, Afenyo-Markin criticised the president for repeating concerns about economic challenges, arguing that Mahama, having previously been in charge of the economy, should focus on solutions rather than lamentations.
“The president again came to this House with a familiar story, the usual lamentations. He packaged it in a language as though we have a new beginning. Mr. Speaker, if the president has any concerns, his duty is to fix them,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
He further pointed out what he described as contradictions in the president’s administration, noting that while Mahama had reduced the number of ministers, he had increased the number of presidential staffers he has appointed.
“The vice president is part of the government, and we have only two women in the cabinet. In percentage terms, that is just 10% representation. Mr. Speaker, the president, as part of his lamentations, tells the nation that they have been able to do two things — pay domestic bonds that matured and engage in financial engineering to settle some energy sector debts to keep the lights on. My question is, Mr. Speaker, does the president have any budget of his own? He inherited this budget, and the revenues he is using for these payments were also inherited from the previous government. Yet, the same government is being condemned,” he argued.
As Afenyo-Markin touched on issues relating to domestic bonds, unemployment, and the school feeding program, the MPs on the Majority side began chanting, ‘Away! Away!”
Speaker Alban Bagbin then intervened, saying, “Honourable Minority Leader, you have one more minute.”
Afenyo-Markin, however, insisted on completing his remarks, referencing patience shown to the Majority side during previous addresses.
“So, when Akufo-Addo was here on his last occasion, there was patience for Emmanuel to speak. Mr. Speaker, there must be patience for the Minority side. I cannot be limited. Let me finish,” he insisted.
Continuing his statement, he further criticised Mahama for failing to acknowledge what he described as significant strides made in the past eight years.
“What we have heard today fails to acknowledge the strides made in the last eight years. Mr. Speaker, the president failed to acknowledge that he came to meet a peaceful and stable country,” he asserted.
He went on to state that Mahama had not mentioned the consistency with which the previous government had paid public and civil servants, despite economic challenges.
“The president failed to tell us that he came to meet a public and civil service that, despite all challenges, was consistently paid by the government. Mr. Speaker, the president failed to tell us that, in spite of all the crises, the Akufo-Addo government was able to increase wages, with the minimum increment being 11%, compared to his 10%,” he added.
As Afenyo-Markin attempted to wrap up his remarks, the Speaker proceeded to acknowledge other distinguished guests present at the session, effectively ending the Minority Leader’s statement.
“My attention has been drawn to the presence of more distinguished members, and I want to draw your attention to them,” he said.
Background:
President Mahama’s State of the Nation Address, which is in line with Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, and which is expected to outline his ambitious “Resetting Ghana” agenda, aims at tackling economic challenges, creating jobs, and restoring stability.
In his address, the president is expected to touch on key areas of his government’s policy objectives.
He is also expected to provide updates on the state of Ghana’s economy, including the ongoing IMF bailout program, security, and the cost of living, among other issues.
Additionally, he will update Ghanaians on deliverables for the year ahead, as well as the achievements of his government so far and the challenges that lie ahead.
JKB/AE
Meanwhile, watch as Majority and Minority chant at each other after Mahama’s SONA