The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to prioritize unity and hard work as the 2024 general elections approach.
According to him, party officers should not give in to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) propaganda to sway votes away from the NPP, which has tangible policies to woo voters.
Speaking at a strategic meeting with NPP parliamentary candidates, constituency executives, and party officers in the Central Region, Afenyo-Markin emphasized the need for the party to avoid internal divisions that previously cost them seats in the 2020 elections.
He urged NPP members to engage voters with facts and achievements.
He said, “Our friends in the NDC only know propaganda. They talk sweetly, but their track record speaks otherwise. When they talk about hardship in the economy, remind them that they created the difficulties we inherited.”
“The people know what this government has done, especially in education and infrastructure.”
The Majority Leader revealed that three independent research studies conducted in the Central Region show the NPP is on track to win at least 16 parliamentary seats in December. He attributed this projection to improved cohesion and strategic groundwork laid by the party.
“In 2020, we lost a lot of seats due to internal fighting but this time, if we put our differences aside, the NPP will win not less than 16 seats in the Central Region. The data is clear; this is our region to claim,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
Explaining the achievements of the NPP government, Afenyo-Markin pointed to the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy as a cornerstone of their campaign.
He dismissed criticisms of the policy, urging party members to articulate its long-term benefits.
According to him, some argue about the immediate benefit of Free SHS adding, “But I tell them this: if you uplift an illiterate population by giving them an opportunity, the impact will be seen in the next decade.”
“This is one of our strongest campaign points, and we must be proud to defend it,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin cautioned against complacency and over-reliance on traditional strongholds like the Ashanti Region. Instead, he encouraged Central Region members to work harder to deliver both parliamentary and presidential victories.
“We cannot campaign for our parliamentary candidates and then lose the elections. Neither can we wait for the Ashanti Region to carry the weight while the Central Region underperforms. Every constituency must secure a decisive win,” he stressed.
The Majority leader decried the “skirt-and-blouse” voting pattern in 2020, where voters supported the presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo but rejected parliamentary candidates.
He argued this phenomenon weakened the NPP in Parliament, resulting in the current equal split of 137 seats for both parties.
“This time, our people have realized that skirt-and-blouse voting hurt us. We must win both the presidency and a parliamentary majority decisively to avoid going into a second round,” he urged.
Afenyo-Markin rallied the Central Region NPP to unity and discipline, reminding members to focus on the larger goal of retaining power.
“This is not the time to fight over resources. It is the time for determination, sacrifice, and a collective will to win. Let’s make sure the NDC never again comes to take over power after we’ve laid a strong foundation for this country,” he declared.