Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin has highlighted the often challenging demands of loyalty and sacrifice in the act of political service. This was during the recent inauguration of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Patriotic Institute at the party’s headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, June 25, where he delivered a speech, sharing his personal insights on the matter.
Afenyo-Markin recounted how his own family faced both professional and personal hardships due to their unwavering commitment to the NPP. His comments served as a poignant reminder that profound political allegiance can lead to significant personal repercussions.
He shared a story about his mother, a dedicated pupil teacher, who lost her job after refusing to align with the 31st December Women’s Movement, which resulted in her being redeployed. He praised her steadfastness, attributing her resolve to her husband’s involvement in the party’s legacy, illustrating her choice of principle over convenience.
“My mother, a devoted pupil teacher, lost her livelihood because she refused to submit to the 31st December Women’s Movement and was subsequently redeployed. That was a tactic used against her, yet she remained resolute because her husband was part of this great tradition,” he stated.
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Afenyo-Markin also recalled how his stepfather, a foreman at Pomadzi Pottery Enterprise in Winneba, faced demotion and transfer to Ankaful Warehouse after the 1996 elections, implying that this was a consequence of his open support for the NPP.
Additionally, he revealed that his biological father, who worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Agriculture’s Mechanisation Division, was forced into exile in Côte d’Ivoire and barred from serving at the UN in Geneva.
He emphasized that these sacrifices were not mere abstractions but real-life challenges endured by loyal Ghanaians who prioritized their principles over political convenience.
Afenyo-Markin disclosed that these hardships nearly jeopardized his own education, as both parents were unemployed and his father was in exile, making it difficult to afford school fees. He credited a bursary obtained through Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom’s intervention for alleviating their financial struggles.
Using this platform, Afenyo-Markin reminded party members of the true costs of loyalty and the necessity of upholding the party’s values.
He stressed that the newly established Patriotic Institute should act as a training hub, equipping members with the knowledge and tools needed to confidently defend and promote the NPP’s ideals.
Party leadership characterized the Patriotic Institute as a think tank and capacity-building center aimed at nurturing the intellectual and ideological foundation of the NPP.
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