By Belinda Nketia
In his farewell address at the last sitting of the 8th Parliament, outgoing Majority Leader Afenyo-Markin shared his experiences, highlighting the challenges he faced and the disappointments he endured during his tenure.
Afenyo-Markin revealed that many people misunderstood his combative approach, unaware of the immense pressure he was under as Majority Leader. He described the minority side as “tough, stubborn, and difficult,” making it impossible to reach agreements, as they were “smelling power.”
Despite the challenges, Afenyo-Markin expressed his conviction that the One District, One Factory policy that parliament failed to pass would have greatly benefited the private sector. He clarified that the initiative was not intended as a freebie, especially when the majority side had agreed to take away the raw materials component of the support to the private sector.
The outgoing Majority Leader also expressed disappointment over the Parliament’s failure to endorse the nomination of justices to the Supreme Court, despite the house vetting them. He emphasized that these individuals were deserving citizens who had earned the opportunity to serve the highest court.
Furthermore, Afenyo-Markin regretted the Parliament’s inability to approve the World Bank’s $250 million facility to support the financial sector. He noted that the proposal had undergone the committee process but was ultimately blocked.
In conclusion, Afenyo-Markin acknowledged that despite the challenges and disappointments, the NPP government has achieved significant milestones, even if not perfect.
