Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has revealed that his assertive style in Parliament was a necessary response to the relentless attacks from the opposition.

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According to him, he often had to single-handedly defend the government against a group of experienced National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs who were actively shaping political narratives against the ruling party.

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Speaking on The KSM Show, the Effutu MP explained that his parliamentary role required him to be outspoken and forceful, as the NPP faced a formidable opposition.

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"When you have about 10 strong opposition MPs constantly challenging government policies and setting the agenda, you can’t afford to stay silent," he said. "Many of our strongest members were in government, and some MPs on our side didn’t have the same energy to push back. It fell on me to respond."

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He recalled his early years in Parliament, where he was initially positioned as a backbencher but was later moved to the middle bench to take on a more active role in defending the party. "I started in the back rows, but leadership pushed me forward because they needed people to take on the opposition directly," he noted.

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Even when the NPP transitioned from opposition to government, Afenyo-Markin said he had to maintain his confrontational style in debates. "If you don’t counter the opposition, you’ll always be on the defensive," he emphasized.

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He also acknowledged that his aggressive approach has drawn criticism but insisted that it was necessary. "People call me boisterous, and I accept it. But in Parliament, you don’t win debates by being passive," he explained.

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Afenyo-Markin credited former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu for preparing him for major debates. "He understood parliamentary rules and strategy, and he relied on my legal background for advocacy. He would brief me on key issues and say, ‘This is your fight,’" he recalled.

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He described the NDC’s parliamentary team as highly skilled and persistent, listing figures like Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Alhassan Suhuyini, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, and Mahama Ayariga as some of the toughest opponents he faced. "They had a strong leadership and could all hold their ground in debates. If you didn’t fight back, you’d be overrun," he stated.

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Reflecting on the last parliamentary term, he noted that the near-equal distribution of seats made debates even more intense. "With a 137-137 split, it was a daily battle. They had the numbers and the energy, and I had to rise to the occasion to keep the government’s position strong," he added.

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Afenyo-Markin maintained that his parliamentary approach was a strategic necessity, not just a personal trait. "It was never about being loud for the sake of it. It was about ensuring that the NPP’s voice was heard and that government policies were defended against opposition attacks," he concluded.

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