BY VALENTIA TETTEH
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for the adoption of strong policy frameworks aimed at ensuring sustainable national development beyond political administrations.
Speaking at a public lecture held in Parliament on Thursday, February 26, 2026, Mr. Afenyo-Markin outlined what he described as key governance frameworks necessary to support Ghana’s democratic growth and policy continuity.
The lecture, themed “Center Left and Center Right: Formulating Policies that Serve a Growing Democracy,” focused on the need for long-term development strategies anchored on institutions rather than individuals.
According to the Minority Leader, Ghana must move away from personality-driven governance and adopt systems that ensure continuity regardless of political transitions.
“Ghana must move from personality-driven policy to architecture-driven development. We must build systems that outlive administrations, frameworks that discipline ambition, and institutions that harmonise ideological differences within constitutional purpose,” he stated.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin said ideological competition in a democracy should improve policy outcomes rather than result in frequent policy reversals.
“If we succeed, ideological competition will refine policy rather than reset direction. Citizens will experience continuity rather than volatility, and investors will respond to predictability rather than uncertainty,” he said.
He emphasised that the country’s development agenda should prioritise stability, productivity and long-term transformation over short-term political gains.
“The choice before us is not between centre-left and centre-right in a structure; it is between short-term advancement and sustained transformation,” he noted.
The Minority Leader further stressed that democracy must deliver tangible benefits for citizens and future generations.
“Democracy must deliver. It must expand freedoms. It must widen opportunity. It must generate sustainable prosperity, and it must do so not only for the present generation, but for posterity,” he said.
The lecture forms part of ongoing discussions on governance and policy direction as Ghana continues to navigate economic and democratic reforms.
