Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has launched a political attack on the government over the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, alleging that the administration is using its policies and programmes to create public support for a third term for President John Mahama.
Speaking in Parliament, the Effutu Member of Parliament claimed that although the budget presented by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson appeared attractive on paper, it did not adequately reflect the economic difficulties confronting ordinary Ghanaians.
According to Mr Afenyo-Markin, the opposition would closely monitor the government’s actions to prevent any attempt to extend President Mahama’s stay in office beyond the constitutionally permitted two terms.
“Third term? You are not performing [but] you want a third term,” he said.
He accused the government of concealing what he described as a “third term agenda” within its economic policies and warned that the NDC would not succeed in securing another mandate for President Mahama.
“You won’t have a third term, today nor tomorrow,” he stressed.
The Minority Leader also criticised the government over what he described as the deterioration of living conditions, insisting that Ghanaians were more concerned about their economic circumstances than figures contained in budget documents.
“We are not interested in the books. We are interested in the economy in our pockets. People are suffering. People need jobs,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin further accused the Mahama administration of abandoning or cancelling some initiatives introduced under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
He cited the One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme, alleged dismissals of public sector workers and rising electricity tariffs as examples of policies and developments he believes have worsened the plight of citizens.
He maintained that the government’s performance, rather than any alleged political strategy, would ultimately determine how Ghanaians respond to its bid for continued political support.
