By Daniel Bampoe
Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has formally protested what he describes as a gross misrepresentation of his recent comments made during an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show.
The Effutu MP has accused the media outlet of distorting his statements to imply he endorsed the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) — a narrative he says is both inaccurate and politically damaging.
In a strongly-worded letter dated May 2, 2025, and addressed to the producers of the morning show, Afenyo-Markin expressed his “strong displeasure” at what he called a “misleading headline and misrepresentation” of remarks he made during the May 2 broadcast.
“This headline is inaccurate. It creates a false impression that I was endorsing the NDC,” he wrote.
“It strips my comments of their full context, misrepresents my intent, and unfortunately exposes me to unfair public criticism and political mischief.”
The headline in question — “NDC is a sellable brand – Afenyo-Markin commends ruling party’s rebranding effort” — was published on Joy FM’s platforms following the interview.
Though it was later taken down after his intervention, Afenyo-Markin noted that the misinformation had already spread to other media outlets, compounding the damage.
During the interview, the Minority Leader discussed critical national issues, including President Mahama’s suspension of the Chief Justice and the nomination of seven new Justices to the Supreme Court.
Towards the end of the program, he was asked whether the New Patriotic Party (NPP) could improve its electoral fortunes in 2028 by replacing Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as its flagbearer.
Afenyo-Markin stated that he responded by emphasizing the importance of political branding over individual candidacy, arguing that party affiliation often outweighs candidate appeal in certain constituencies.
“To illustrate this point, I referenced the Effutu and Keta constituencies, highlighting that in some areas, entrenched party affiliation exerts more influence on voter decisions than the personal appeal of candidates,” he explained.
“In Keta, for instance, a candidate running on the ticket of the NDC is likely to win, not necessarily because of personal merit, but because the NDC brand is sellable among the electorate there and reflects the political preference of the community.”
He stressed that his remarks were intended as a political analysis — not an endorsement of the NDC. He also reiterated his commitment to rebuilding and rebranding the NPP ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The lawmaker criticized Joy FM’s editorial judgment, stating that the media platform, known for its credibility, had failed in its duty to report responsibly.
“The framing of that headline runs counter to the tenets of responsible journalism and constitutes a grave disservice both to me as a Public Servant and to your audience who rely on your platform for fair and accurate reportage.”
Afenyo-Markin has demanded three specific remedies:
1. A full retraction of the misleading headline across all Joy FM platforms.
2. A corrected and contextualized version of his remarks to be published and broadcast with equal prominence.
3. An official written apology from the editorial or production team responsible.
He concluded by urging the media to uphold journalistic standards, especially when dealing with politically sensitive issues.
“The media wields enormous influence in shaping public opinion. With that comes the duty to report fairly, accurately, and responsibly.”
