New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, has publicly called on the Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, to step down from his position, citing growing internal competition and tensions within the party.

According to Mr Agyapong, several party members are eyeing the Minority Leader role currently occupied by the Effutu Member of Parliament, and he believes it would be prudent for Mr Afenyo-Markin to relinquish the position to allow others to take up the responsibility.

Speaking in an interview on UTV on December 15, Mr Agyapong argued that the Minority Leader’s financial independence makes it unnecessary for him to hold on to the role.

“He is well-to-do, so he should leave the position for those who are fighting him,” he said.

Mr Agyapong suggested that much of the criticism directed at Mr Afenyo-Markin’s leadership is driven more by internal power struggles than by concerns over performance.

He further noted that some party members are pushing for the Minority Leader to be selected from regions such as the Eastern or Ashanti Regions.

“Those criticising Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s leadership want positions… I have personally called him to tell him to step aside,” he stated.

He added that while he is aware of those seeking to take over the position, he has chosen not to name them publicly.

“If it were in the olden days, I would have mentioned all those seeking his position’s names, but now I won’t. He can eat for the rest of his life, and it shouldn’t look like being an MP is the only way to survive,” he remarked.