‘What have I done to you?’

Afenyo-Markin recalled that Buah confronted him over calls for his resignation

The Minority Leader in Parliament and Effutu MP, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has revealed that Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah once approached him to question why the Minority was calling for his removal from office.

Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV on February 16, 2026, Afenyo-Markin explained that he told the minister the calls for his resignation were not personal but rather a consequence of policy failure.

He emphasised that the caucus works in the interest of the party and the nation and not to attack individuals.

“People should not push too much and personalize matters. If you come back in 2029, they may also make life difficult for you.

“You gauge the mood of the House, but you don’t deviate from your core duty of scrutiny. I always tell my colleagues in government, do your work well and let me do mine. We can maintain good relationships but the work must be done. It’s not about friendship or taking tea together and then sleeping over the job,” he said.

Afenyo-Markin recalled that during Christmas, Buah confronted him, asking, “Afenyo, what have I done to you? Why are you doing this?”

He responded, “Emma, it is not about your person; it is a policy failure. You defended the lithium agreement when Hon Abu Jinapor was drawing government’s attention to loopholes in the deal.

“You didn’t listen. It was only when CSOs, led by Imani, escalated the matter that the President directed you to withdraw the agreement. How do you expect us to remain quiet?”

He stressed that the Minority’s position was based on accountability and not personal animosity.

“If your government introduces an agreement in Parliament, defends it, and later admits it was flawed, politically you must pay a price. It is not personal it is about responsibility.”

It may be recalled that the Minority in Parliament demanded the immediate resignation of Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who also serves as acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, over what they described as “inconsistencies” in the lithium mining agreement.

At a press conference on December 17, 2025, MP for Old Tafo, Ekow Assafuah, stated that the Minister’s initial defense of the agreement and subsequent withdrawal after public backlash exposed a lack of direction.

“The Minority of the 9th Parliament is of the firm view that the honourable course of action is for the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to resign or be relieved of his position in the interest of accountability, good governance, and restoration of public trust in the management of Ghana’s mineral resources,” Assafuah said.

The caucus argued that the minister must bear responsibility for assuring Parliament that the lithium agreement met all requirements, only to later withdraw it.

They maintained that his actions raised serious concerns about ministerial responsibility, credibility, and governance standards.

AM

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