The Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency in the Central region, Alexander Afenyo-Markin says he did not expect to be named as Majority Leader of Parliament following the controversial resignation of Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
On February 23, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu officially resigned as Majority Leader.
Before this announcement, there had been rumours of a power bloc within the ruling party but outside Parliament scheming to remove Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu from his position as head of the Majority Caucus.
On February 20, the Majority Caucus was divided with a faction led by First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu kicking against any attempt to change the leadership of the caucus.
He stressed that they were satisfied with the work of Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and that there was no need to oust him, while the other faction believed that it was time for the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin to step in as leader.
This created what was suspected to be tensions between the majority legislators until President Akufo-Addo held a crunch meeting on February 21 to resolve the issue.
But, Mr Afenyo-Markin insists that he did not expect to be given that role, as several capable individuals could equally have occupied that position.
Speaking on JoyNews' The Pulse, he asserted that the role given him was solely by the goodness of God.
“I did not [expect the Majority leader position]. Like I said in my opening speech, NPP is a big party with a lot of talents, a lot of professionals, and great minds and even if you dream to do something, you can only rely on the Grace of God.
“So, I think divinity and the cosmic masters themselves conspired positively in my favour. I am grateful to the Lord God Almighty, Great Architect of the Universe for those favours received,” he said.
The Majority Leader explained that despite the numerous roles he played while the party was in opposition, he was not offered any appointment, therefore this new role was a surprise.
“Remember that in opposition we worked so hard and when we had the opportunity to form the in government, I lost out in government. No appointments in the Executive, in Parliament, even committees I was not in leadership and here we were, some of our new entrants were getting Cabinet jobs, some new entrants were my seniors on the committee and I was a Bob no-rank.
"I was sent to ECOWAS Parliament, there too there was a whole brouhaha. I had to step down to enable Ghana to be sworn in..." he added.
Credit: Connielove Mawutornyo Dzodzegbe