“Ato was tough, stubborn, and difficult”- Afenyo-Markin recalls Forson’s firmness as Minority leader

Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has offered a candid retrospective on the tenure of his predecessor, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, describing him as a uniquely resolute and challenging opponent across the aisle.

In remarks that shed light on the inner workings of parliamentary negotiations, Afenyo-Markin recalled how Dr. Forson’s firmness and loyalty to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) consistently stood in the way of government business, a sharp contrast to previous minority leaderships.

“When Ato became Minority Leader in Parliament, he was such a tough, stubborn and difficult side,” Afenyo-Markin stated.

The Majority Leader revealed that he often faced pressure to reach deals with the minority, but Dr. Forson rarely budged. “There will be pressure on me as Majority Leader to strike a deal with the minority leadership, but Ato won’t budge,” he said.

According to Afenyo-Markin, several government initiatives he had hoped to push through for political expediency were stalled due to the minority’s firm stance under Dr. Forson’s watch. “The number of government businesses I would have loved to complete for political expediencies, I did not get the support from my respected colleagues under Ato’s leadership,” he noted.

Perhaps most striking was Afenyo-Markin’s description of Dr. Forson’s negotiating style—deceptively amicable but ultimately uncompromising. “Ato Forson will speak to you nicely, have a good conversation with you, then call later to say there’s no deal,” he recalled.

The Effutu MP contrasted this with the era before Dr. Forson’s leadership, asserting that previous minority leaderships made it easy for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to have its way—including during the passage of the controversial E-Levy.

“Unlike the previous leadership that made it easy for the NPP to always have their way, including the passage of the controversial E-Levy,” Afenyo-Markin added.

Dr. Forson, who currently serves as Minority Leader, has built a reputation for fiscal hawkishness and disciplined opposition, often drawing praise from within his party for holding the government accountable. His leadership style, as described by his political rival, appears to have left a lasting impression on the majority side.