The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has urged members of TESCON at GIMPA to take a decisive role in rebuilding the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) political strength ahead of the 2028 general elections, admitting that the party’s loss in 2024 was driven largely by a disconnect with the youth.
Addressing the gathering, Afenyo-Markin stressed that electoral victories are not accidental but require deliberate preparation, organisation, and sustained engagement. He said the party must begin early to secure victory in 2028 in support of its flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Reflecting on the 2024 elections, the Minority Leader acknowledged that the NPP lost more than just votes.
“We did not just lose an election; we lost momentum and, more importantly, the energy and confidence of the youth,” he said.
He pointed to a significant shift across tertiary institutions, where young voters changed their perception, level of engagement, and enthusiasm toward the party.
According to him, the opposition National Democratic Congress capitalised on this gap by effectively mobilising young people, dominating digital platforms, and shaping narratives that resonated with their frustrations.
“In modern politics, perception can overshadow performance,” he noted, adding that the NDC simplified complex governance issues into emotionally appealing messages, sometimes laced with misinformation, to gain political advantage.
However, Afenyo-Markin argued that the realities of governance are beginning to expose what he described as a gap between the promises made by the current administration and the lived experiences of Ghanaians.
He cited concerns over ongoing recruitment into the security services as an example. Referring to figures provided by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, he noted that over 506,000 applicants purchased recruitment forms, despite only about 5,000 available positions.
He criticised what he described as a lack of transparency in the process, alleging that applicants are inconsistently disqualified without clear explanations and questioning the relevance of some AI-based aptitude tests used in the selection process.
The Minority Leader also raised concerns about recent dismissals in the public sector, referencing a directive issued in February 2025 and signed by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah. He claimed that several individuals employed as far back as 2018 had been unfairly removed from their positions.
He disclosed that the Minority, led by Patrick Yaw Boamah and Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has filed a private member’s motion in Parliament seeking an investigation into the matter.
Afenyo-Markin argued that the directive raises serious constitutional concerns, particularly regarding citizens’ rights under Chapters 5 and 6 of the 1992 Constitution.
He concluded by charging TESCON members to take up the responsibility of reconnecting the party with the youth, emphasising that the 2028 elections will be won through sustained engagement on campuses and across digital platforms, rather than on election day alone.
Story By: Sheila Obaapa Naana Frimpomaa