The Minority in Parliament says partisan governance is steadily eroding livelihoods and weakening Ghana’s democratic foundations.

At a meeting with President John Mahama at the Jubilee House on December 22, the Minority Caucus presented what it described as a “clear and present danger” to national stability, constitutional order and public trust.

The concerns were formally delivered by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, with Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh issuing the statement on December 8.

The Minority said the issues raised cut across governance, security, the economy and the rule of law, and require urgent presidential intervention.

Central to the concerns is illegal mining. The Minority said galamsey continues to destroy water bodies, forests and livelihoods, with the situation worsening since January 2025.

It warned that weak traceability systems at GoldBod risk turning the state into a buyer of illegally mined gold, effectively legitimising environmental destruction.

The Caucus said Ghana “cannot become a state-sponsored conduit for illegal gold” and raised doubts about the effectiveness of the Blue Water Guards, citing continued devastation despite their deployment.

The Minority also raised an alarm over the dismissal of about 2,802 public servants through directives from the Chief of Staff.

It said the action undermines an independent civil service and deepens hardship at a time when 1.3 million young people are unemployed.

According to the statement, the civil service must serve the state and not any governing party.

The Caucus further accused the governing party of turning election petitions into political tools. It said open claims by NDC officials about using litigation to overturn parliamentary results amount to “parliamentary engineering” and undermine the people’s verdict.

It also cited what it called systematic harassment of the Minority, including moves to remove its leader from the ECOWAS Parliament and referrals to the Privileges Committee. The Minority described this as “an attack on the institution of opposition itself”.

On the economy, the Minority said contractors perceived to be aligned with the NPP are being denied payment despite approved budgets. It warned that this politicisation of payments is collapsing businesses and destroying jobs.

The Caucus also criticised the withdrawal of incentives under the One District One Factory initiative. It said the move has left factories idle and workers laid off, with no clear alternative policy in place.

Concerns were also raised about selective prosecution and punitive bail conditions. The Minority said some NPP officials face “economic detention” through high bail terms, while cases involving the previous administration are dropped through nolle prosequi. It described this as “justice by party colour”.

Youth unemployment was flagged as a national security threat. With 1.3 million young people outside education, employment or training, the Minority warned of a looming social crisis that could fuel crime and instability.

The statement also pointed to rising violent crime, kidnappings and public fear, saying the state is failing in its duty to protect lives and property.

Finally, the Minority raised concerns about alleged third-term agendas. It urged the President to “publicly, unequivocally, and repeatedly” reject any attempt to extend presidential term limits.

In its closing appeal, the Minority warned that Ghana is at a crossroads and that history will judge the choices made now.

It said it stands ready for constructive engagement but will continue to use all constitutional and parliamentary means to defend democracy and protect livelihoods.