Afenyo-Markin’s Record Speaks for Itself-NPP Post-Election Report

A research report of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has commended the Minority Leader and the Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin as the most impactful MP following his outstanding performance in the Central region.

According to the report Chaired by former Majority Leader, Kyei Mensah-Bonsu,  “Since entering Parliament in 2013, Afenyo-Markin has consistently proven himself to be one of the most dynamic, resourceful, and forward-thinking leaders in the NPP. “

“Thus far, his tenure in Parliament has been defined by admirable legal acumen, strategic political maneuvering, and a commitment to constituency development that far exceeds that of many longer-serving MPs across the political divide,” it stated.

The report identified areas of such follows:

1. a) His Legal and Strategic Impact in Parliament: It was Afenyo-Markin who successfully challenged the unconstitutional 2024 ruling of Speaker Alban Bagbin, securing a major Supreme Court victory that preserved the NPP’s parliamentary majority. This was a critical intervention, as allowing the NDC to claim majority status under an NPP government would have plunged the country into an unprecedented constitutional crisis.
2. b) His Developmental Impact in Effutu: Unlike many other MPs who have taken their constituencies for granted, Afenyo-Markin has spearheaded a transformational agenda in Effutu, including:

– The construction of multiple police stations to enhance security.

– The development of modern school facilities and ICT training centers, ensuring access to quality education.

– The ongoing construction of a state-of-the-art children’s hospital, a landmark health initiative in his constituency.

– The ongoing construction of a major tissue paper production factory, providing employment for young people.

– The rehabilitation and facelift of major roads and community centers.

1. c) His Impact as an inspiring Minority Leader: In the aftermath of a demoralizing electoral defeat in 2024, Afenyo-Markin has emerged as a resilient and strategic Minority Leader, breathing renewed vigor into a fractured party, rekindling its political aspirations, and positioning the NPP for a formidable resurgence.

These are all concrete, verifiable achievements that no honest observer can dismiss. Yet, the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report chooses to attack the Effutu MP while remaining silent on the dismal development records of some long-serving MPs who have presided over neglect in their own constituencies.

Although the NPP’s performance in the Central Region in 2024 was disappointing, it was shaped by broader national economic challenges, internal party conflicts, and voter fatigue—factors far beyond the influence of any single parliamentary leader. Any attempt, therefore, to place the blame solely on Afenyo-Markin oversimplifies a complex situation and ignores his significant contributions. Indeed, the Effutu MP played a crucial role in mobilizing resources and strengthening the party’s campaign efforts in the region and across the country. Without his intervention, the 41 percent of the presidential vote secured nationwide might have been even lower.

Although multiple factors contributed to the party’s electoral defeat, the Nana Akufo-Addo administration’s handling of governance, particularly during its second term, played a pivotal role in the outcome. Economic hardships—including rising inflation, a depreciating cedi, high fuel prices, and increased taxation—placed a heavy burden on ordinary Ghanaians. Public frustration deepened as the government appeared slow to respond to these challenges, while concerns over corruption and perceptions of insularity among key officials further eroded trust. Additionally, the lack of proactive leadership in resolving internal party tensions weakened cohesion at a time when unity was crucial. It is, therefore, commendable that the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report acknowledges these challenges, but shifting blame onto a hardworking parliamentary leader ignores the broader issues that truly shaped the NPP’s electoral fortunes.

Below is the Full Report

A Critical Review of the Ashanti Regional NPP Investigative Report: Addressing Bias, Strategic Omissions, and the Future of Party Resilience

Introduction

The recently leaked investigative report by the Ashanti Regional Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)—hereafter referred to as the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee Report—on the party’s disastrous performance in the 2024 elections is as underwhelming as the election results themselves. While it claims to offer an honest and critical assessment of the party’s failures, a closer and more rigorous analysis reveals it to be a deeply flawed, factionally driven, and intellectually dishonest document. Far from serving as a blueprint for meaningful reform, the report appears, in many respects, to be a tool for factional infighting, selective blame-shifting, and political whitewashing. Rather than addressing the root causes of the NPP’s electoral collapse, it risks deepening the party’s internal divisions and undermining its path to recovery.

Summary

The Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report fails in four critical areas, each of which undermines its credibility and utility as a tool for genuine party reform:

1. Disrespect for National Authority: The committee’s decision to continue its work despite the launch of the Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye Committee—a national probe mandated by the NPP’s National Executive Council (NEC)—demonstrates a blatant disregard for party hierarchy and discipline. This defiance undermines the authority of the national body, risks creating conflicting narratives, and further fractures the party at a time when cohesion and centralized leadership are paramount.
2. Reckless Leakage: The report’s irresponsible leakage into the public domain exemplifies the internal sabotage and strategic indiscipline that plague the NPP. Such a breach of confidentiality not only damages the party’s image but also provides ammunition for political opponents, further compounding the NPP’s electoral woes
3. Selective Accountability: The report scapegoats certain individuals while conspicuously absolving others who were equally—if not more—culpable for the party’s embarrassing defeat. This selective blame-shifting reveals a troubling bias, as it shields key figures like Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi) from scrutiny, despite their well-documented failures in leadership and constituency management.
4. Dishonest Hero-Worship: The report attempts to celebrate figures such as Wontumi, portraying him as a victim rather than holding him accountable for his divisive leadership, reckless public statements, and failure to galvanize the party’s base in its Ashanti stronghold. This whitewashing of his role in the party’s decline is not only intellectually dishonest but also counterproductive to the NPP’s efforts to rebuild trust and unity.

Rather than serving as a sober reflection on the party’s failures and a guide for meaningful course correction, the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report risks deepening the crisis within the NPP. This response critically dissects some of the report’s major failings, exposes its intellectual dishonesty, and provides an objective roadmap for reform—one that prioritizes accountability, unity, and strategic discipline over factionalism and deflection.

Defiance or Disarray? The Regional Committee’s Unjustified Continuation Amid a National Probe

From the outset, it is important to highlight what I consider an obvious disrespect of the National statutes of the party by the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee. The Committee’s investigation into the NPP’s 2024 election defeat, established on 14 December 2024, should have immediately ceased its activities upon the formation of the Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye National Committee on 2 January 2025. This is not merely a suggestion of good practice but a matter of legal and organizational imperative. The NPP, as a structured political entity, operates under a clear hierarchical framework where national directives take precedence over regional initiatives, particularly on matters as critical as a comprehensive post-election review. The establishment of the Oquaye Committee by the NEC was a decisive move to centralize and unify the party’s approach to understanding its electoral defeat, ensuring consistency, coherence, and the avoidance of conflicting narratives. By continuing its work independently, the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee not only undermined the authority of the national body but also risked creating parallel processes that could fragment the party’s internal cohesion and dilute the integrity of the eventual outcome of Oquaye Committee’s investigation.

The Oquaye Committee’s mandate explicitly includes engaging stakeholders at all levels of the party, meaning the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee’s findings could—and should—have been integrated into the national review. Instead, the regional committee’s decision to press ahead with its report, despite the ongoing work of the Oquaye probe (which, as of now, remains unfinished), has introduced unnecessary confusion and potential contradictions. This lack of alignment not only weakens the credibility of the regional report but also exposes the party to internal discord at a time when unity and strategic focus are paramount for rebuilding and future electoral success. The Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee’s insistence – by conduct – on operating independently, despite the Oquaye Committee’s broader mandate and authority, reflects a troubling disregard for party discipline and risks setting a dangerous precedent for future internal investigations. For the NPP to emerge stronger from the 2024 defeat, it must prioritize centralized, coordinated efforts over fragmented, regionalized inquiries that serve only to divide rather than unite.

The Reckless Leak of the Report: A Sign of Strategic Indiscipline

The first and most alarming failure of the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report is that it even became public knowledge in the first place. Any serious political party that commissions an internal investigation must have strict confidentiality mechanisms in place to protect its findings from being weaponized by opponents or misinterpreted by the public.

The Ashanti Regional NPP’s complete failure to control its own information flow is a stark contrast to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which suffered an equally humiliating defeat in the 2016 elections but never allowed the findings of its Kwesi Botchwey Committee to be made public. The NDC understood that such an internal review, if leaked, could only do further damage. That the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report found its way into the public sphere so quickly suggests either deliberate sabotage or an astonishing level of incompetence in party and or committee administration. This alone should be cause for disciplinary action, but instead, it appears that no lessons have been learned from the reckless manner in which the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report was handled.

The Targeted and Unjustified Attack on Afenyo-Markin

One of the most indefensible aspects of this the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report is its attempt to unfairly attack and discredit Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader and MP for Effutu, while absolving others who were demonstrably responsible for the party’s poor performance.

The passage in question—on page 21 of the report—attempts, without mentioning the Effutu MP by name, to demonize the transition in parliamentary leadership by falsely branding the replacement of Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu with his former Deputy Majority Leader as an “embarrassing disaster” and advancing a divisive ethnic narrative involving an alleged “Akyem Mafia” conspiracy. This assertion is not only misleading and dangerously incendiary but also reflects a shocking level of intellectual dishonesty by the authors.

The claim that his leadership in Parliament was a disaster and a key factor in the party’s electoral collapse is not only misleading but outright dishonest.

Afenyo-Markin’s Record Speaks for Itself

Since entering Parliament in 2013, Afenyo-Markin has consistently proven himself to be one of the most dynamic, resourceful, and forward-thinking leaders in the NPP. Thus far, his tenure in Parliament has been defined by admirable legal acumen, strategic political maneuvering, and a commitment to constituency development that far exceeds that of many longer-serving MPs across the political divide.

1. a) His Legal and Strategic Impact in Parliament: It was Afenyo-Markin who successfully challenged the unconstitutional 2024 ruling of Speaker Alban Bagbin, securing a major Supreme Court victory that preserved the NPP’s parliamentary majority. This was a critical intervention, as allowing the NDC to claim majority status under an NPP government would have plunged the country into an unprecedented constitutional crisis.
2. b) His Developmental Impact in Effutu: Unlike many other MPs who have taken their constituencies for granted, Afenyo-Markin has spearheaded a transformational agenda in Effutu, including:

– The construction of multiple police stations to enhance security.

– The development of modern school facilities and ICT training centers, ensuring access to quality education.

– The ongoing construction of a state-of-the-art children’s hospital, a landmark health initiative in his constituency.

– The ongoing construction of a major tissue paper production factory, providing employment for young people.

– The rehabilitation and facelift of major roads and community centers.

1. c) His Impact as an inspiring Minority Leader: In the aftermath of a demoralizing electoral defeat in 2024, Afenyo-Markin has emerged as a resilient and strategic Minority Leader, breathing renewed vigor into a fractured party, rekindling its political aspirations, and positioning the NPP for a formidable resurgence.

These are all concrete, verifiable achievements that no honest observer can dismiss. Yet, the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report chooses to attack the Effutu MP while remaining silent on the dismal development records of some long-serving MPs who have presided over neglect in their own constituencies.

Although the NPP’s performance in the Central Region in 2024 was disappointing, it was shaped by broader national economic challenges, internal party conflicts, and voter fatigue—factors far beyond the influence of any single parliamentary leader. Any attempt, therefore, to place the blame solely on Afenyo-Markin oversimplifies a complex situation and ignores his significant contributions. Indeed, the Effutu MP played a crucial role in mobilizing resources and strengthening the party’s campaign efforts in the region and across the country. Without his intervention, the 41 percent of the presidential vote secured nationwide might have been even lower.

Although multiple factors contributed to the party’s electoral defeat, the Nana Akufo-Addo administration’s handling of governance, particularly during its second term, played a pivotal role in the outcome. Economic hardships—including rising inflation, a depreciating cedi, high fuel prices, and increased taxation—placed a heavy burden on ordinary Ghanaians. Public frustration deepened as the government appeared slow to respond to these challenges, while concerns over corruption and perceptions of insularity among key officials further eroded trust. Additionally, the lack of proactive leadership in resolving internal party tensions weakened cohesion at a time when unity was crucial. It is, therefore, commendable that the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report acknowledges these challenges, but shifting blame onto a hardworking parliamentary leader ignores the broader issues that truly shaped the NPP’s electoral fortunes.

The Glaring Hypocrisy: Why Was Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Shielded?

A critical assessment of Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s tenure as Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in the previous Parliament highlights consequential missteps that eroded the NPP’s parliamentary dominance and governance efficacy. While undeniably a formidable political strategist and party stalwart, his failure to secure the re-election of Speaker Mike Oquaye precipitated the unprecedented election of Alban Bagbin as Speaker—a seismic shift that diminished the party’s legislative control, disrupted key government agendas, and entrenched procedural gridlock.

Further compounding these challenges, his leadership oversaw the first-ever rejection of a national budget (2022) in Ghana’s Fourth Republic, laying bare systemic disarray within the majority caucus. Only through urgent parliamentary maneuvering was the budget salvaged. Equally damaging was his indecisive handling of the prolonged Adwoa Safo absenteeism crisis, which exacerbated internal fractures and paralyzed critical legislative processes.

Had the report genuinely sought to scrutinize leadership failures in Ashanti, it would have thoroughly interrogated the public humiliation endured by Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu in Suame—his own constituency. Under his decades-long stewardship, Suame became emblematic of infrastructural decay, culminating in constituents stoning him during an attempted inspection of long-neglected road projects. This watershed moment of civic disillusionment—a direct rebuke of his unmet development promises—should have anchored the report’s analysis. Instead, it was conspicuously marginalized, with blame artfully deflected onto the Akufo-Addo administration for “neglecting Ashanti”—a disingenuous framing. The Suame electorate’s message was unambiguous: their representative, despite his national clout, had chronically failed to translate political power into tangible progress. The incident irreversibly tarnished his stature, and by the time he resigned as Majority Leader in early 2024, his influence had markedly diminished.

Thus, the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report’s glaring omission of these systemic leadership failures—while disproportionately targeting Afenyo-Markin—exposes its true character: a thinly veiled partisan exercise aimed at shielding certain figures and scapegoating others. Such selective accountability undermines its credibility and reaffirms public skepticism about institutional impartiality.

The Dishonest Attempt to Celebrate Wontumi Despite His Failures

While the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report does make a half-hearted attempt to criticize Chairman Wontumi, its overall tone is one of unearned praise and excuse-making.

– Wontumi presided over one of the worst electoral disasters in the history of the NPP in the Ashanti Region. Under his leadership, voter apathy in the party’s stronghold reached unprecedented levels, leading to a drastic reduction in turnout.

– His reckless public utterances and perceived arrogance alienated both party supporters and neutral voters. Instead of being a unifying force, Wontumi became a symbol of the party’s internal dysfunction.

– His inability to coordinate an effective campaign strategy further weakened the party’s position in its most crucial region.

The Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report, despite acknowledging some of these failures, still seeks to shield Wontumi from full accountability and instead paints him as a committed leader who was simply overwhelmed by circumstances. This is not only dishonest but also dangerous, as it sets a precedent for rewarding failure.

If the NPP is serious about rebuilding in Ashanti, it must be willing to confront the fact that Wontumi’s leadership was a disaster and that he should have been held fully accountable rather than given a face-saving critique in the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report.

The raid on Nana Addo, Bawumia and Co

The report singles out key individuals as frontline contributors to the NPP’s 2024 defeat, yet conveniently shields Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Chairman Wontumi, and Kwaku Kwarteng by portraying them as victims of circumstance rather than holding them fully accountable. As pointed out earlier, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s alleged leadership failures in Parliament and alleged neglect of his Suame constituency, which led to public outrage, are downplayed. Similarly, Wontumi’s divisive leadership and reckless public statements, which fueled voter apathy in Ashanti, are glossed over.

 

Similarly, Kwarteng’s private and public utterances, including letters critical of the government, which undermined the party’s public image, are overlooked as the report frames him as a victim of internal dynamics. Meanwhile, the report squarely blames President Akufo-Addo for his perceived intransigence and failure to address economic hardship, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for being seen as a “shadow” of Akufo-Addo, and Kennedy Agyapong, Ernest Kofi Owusu Bempah, Kwabena Tahiru Hammond, and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NapO) amongst others for their inflammatory and distasteful remarks that alienated voters.

By shielding Kyei, Wontumi, and Kwarteng while targeting others, the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report reveals a troubling bias, failing to hold all leaders equally accountable for the party’s decline.

Grammatical and Structural Deficiencies

A thorough review of the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report exposes glaring deficiencies in its grammatical integrity and structural coherence. The document is marred by inconsistent syntax, ambiguous phrasing, and sentences so convoluted they border on incomprehensibility. While specific examples are omitted here to avoid undue focus on individual errors, the cumulative effect of these shortcomings undermines the report’s professionalism and clarity—a startling lapse for a document of such political significance.

It is regrettable that a party positioning itself as a bastion of intellectual rigor would produce a public-facing text riddled with typographical oversights and unpolished language. Such carelessness risks diminishing the credibility of the report’s substantive content, regardless of its merits. While criticism of this nature is never offered lightly, the gravity of these oversights necessitates candor: a document intended to shape internal discourse and policy reform demands precision, coherence, and adherence to basic linguistic standards.

This critique is levied not out of disrespect for the esteemed members of the Committee, but from a sincere concern for upholding the quality of governance-associated communication. One hopes future iterations will prioritize rigorous editorial oversight to align with the intellectual stature the party aspires to project.

Some Worthy Aspects of the Report

Despite the foregoing criticism of the Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report, I must admit that there are some noteworthy aspects from the report that are worth celebrating. They include but are not limited to:

1. Resilience and Strong Party Structures – Despite the challenges, the NPP in the Ashanti Region has well-established structures at the polling station, constituency, and regional levels, which provide a solid foundation for future electoral success.
2. Impressive Government Achievements – The Akufo-Addo administration, despite its major failures in key areas, completed major projects, including roads, hospitals, and educational infrastructure, which were acknowledged by respondents.

 

1. Commitment to Reform – The party recognizes flaws in its delegate system and campaign strategies, demonstrating a willingness to implement necessary reforms for better electoral outcomes.
2. High Voter Turnout in Ashanti Region – Even with dissatisfaction, the region remained the party’s stronghold, contributing significantly to the overall national vote.
3. Active Political Engagement – The Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report shows that party members, supporters, and stakeholders are deeply engaged, offering constructive criticism and suggestions for the party’s progress.

The Path Forward: Urgent and Necessary Reforms

If the NPP wants to recover from this debacle and position itself for victory in future elections, it must immediately address the following critical issues, some of which were documented by the report:

1. End the Culture of Selective Accountability: Leadership failures must be addressed without fear or favor. The party cannot afford to protect entrenched figures at the expense of real progress.
2. Overhaul the Delegate System: The monetization and corruption in party primaries must be tackled head-on. The current system only benefits political gatekeepers and weakens grassroots engagement.
3. Prioritize Development and Real Leadership: Leaders like Afenyo-Markin, who have a track record of tangible development, should be encouraged, not attacked.
4. Implement Strict Internal Discipline: Leaked reports, factional sabotage, and strategic indiscipline must be punished and eliminated.

Conclusion

The Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu Committee report is a deeply flawed document—a mix of political miscalculations, selective accountability, and missed opportunities for genuine introspection. It misplaces blame, shields key figures like Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Wontumi, and risks becoming a tool for factional deflection rather than a roadmap for reform. The regional committee’s failure to halt its work upon the appointment of the Oquaye Committee on 2 January 2025 further undermines its credibility, exposing a troubling disregard for party hierarchy and discipline. If the NPP fails to seize this moment for meaningful self-evaluation and structural change, it will only accelerate its decline, leaving historians to mark this period as the beginning of the party’s slow but inevitable unraveling.

Yet, even amid these shortcomings, the report hints at a path forward. The NPP’s resilience in the Ashanti Region, with its strong grassroots structures, remains a foundation for future success. The recognition of flaws in the delegate system and campaign strategies offers a glimmer of hope for renewal. However, these positives are overshadowed by the report’s failure to align with the national committee’s work, creating unnecessary confusion and division at a time when unity is critical. The NPP must now prioritize centralized, coordinated efforts over fragmented, regionalized inquiries. By embracing truth over factionalism, accountability over deflection, and action over rhetoric, the party can rebuild trust, restore discipline, and secure a stronger future. The time for half-measures and internal sabotage is over—the NPP must act decisively, or risk fading into irrelevance.

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Source: expressnewsghana.com