Ghana needs institutional reforms and courageous leadership — Osahen Afenyo-Markin
Minority Leader in Parliament Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called for major institutional reforms and a change in leadership attitudes.
He noted that Ghana can achieve greater progress if leaders become more accountable and young people actively speak out on national issues.
Speaking during a dialogue with Emeritus Professor Kwesi Yankah at Ashesi University on Friday, June 19, the Effutu MP said the country's governance system requires reassessment to address persistent challenges confronting national development.
The discussion, held on youth in national governance, saw the Minority Leader share his personal journey into politics, his leadership experiences and his views on governance, education and national development.
"We have a challenge in terms of the governance architecture of our country. Everybody and their attitude towards leadership. For all I've seen through my travels, schooling abroad, doing business with people from other jurisdictions and looking at where we are and the potential we have as a country, I believe that we need to reassess ourselves as a people," he said.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin argued that political leaders often avoid difficult decisions to protect their positions, a situation he said has contributed to some of the country's problems.
He cited illegal mining as an example of collective failure and called for deliberate policies to promote technical and vocational education to reduce the overreliance on white-collar jobs.
According to him, many young people pursue university education without considering vocational careers because of societal perceptions and inadequate policy support.
The Minority Leader also encouraged young people to use available platforms, including social media, to hold leaders accountable.
"I would say that let us begin with a change in our attitude and speak out. There's a difference between being abusive and speaking out and calling leadership to order. It must begin from your side," he stated.
The Effutu MP recounted how he entered politics unexpectedly after residents of Effutu encouraged him to contest the parliamentary seat while he was pursuing his legal studies.
He said his upbringing and personal struggles influenced his commitment to supporting people in his community and maintaining close relationships with constituents.
Touching on his role in Parliament, he said the Minority caucus, despite its smaller numbers, has sought to remain relevant in national discussions by advancing arguments and holding the government accountable.