The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has sharply criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s first 120 days in office, describing the period as “120 days of disappointment and regret.”
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Tuesday, May 6, Afenyo-Markin said, “For me, it’s 120 days of disappointment and regret. The NDC in 120 days has created a two Ghana, a Ghana for them and their party and a Ghana for the others they consider enemies.”
Afenyo-Markin criticized the government’s decision to terminate the employment of individuals recruited into public institutions after the December 7 elections.
“First of all, when they assumed office, they decided to terminate the employment of Ghanaians who had been employed in state institutions. The original letter from the Chief of Staff said that those employed into the public and civil service after the December 7 elections — if there were irregularities — should have their employment terminated. I found that to be even defective,” he said.
He alleged that the termination was followed by mass dismissals, with independent state institutions and government-linked limited liability companies also dismissing staff under questionable circumstances. “What did we even see? There was a mass dismissal,” Afenyo-Markin noted.
The Minority Leader highlighted the cases of teachers and nurses who were posted but later removed from their positions.
“Worst of all, teachers and nurses who were employed and posted were also attacked. Haruna Iddrisu issued a statement about validating the teachers, but there is no evidence that those who were asked to go home have been reinstated,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin also criticized the government’s failure to deliver on its flagship 24-hour economy policy.
“They made us believe they would implement a ‘one-three-three’ model — one job, three shifts — by creating an enabling environment for the private sector through incentives. What we see today is a complete lack of policy direction for the private sector,” he said.
In conclusion, Afenyo-Markin described the NDC’s first four months in office as a significant misstep and a betrayal of public trust. The government’s actions, he argued, have worsened unemployment rather than addressing it.