You Are Seeking Reparations Abroad, Yet You Can’t Pay Your Own Workers – Afenyo Fires at Mahama

According to an Official Facebook Post by Kojo Anane Sonkondo on 7 November 2026, Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has criticised President John Dramani Mahama over the ongoing labour concerns involving public-sector workers, particularly the industrial action by Judicial Service staff, questioning the government’s commitment to workers’ welfare.

The Minority Leader expressed concern about the impact of the strike on the country’s justice delivery system. He questioned how an essential institution responsible for administering justice could be brought to a standstill because of unresolved concerns about workers’ conditions of service and welfare.

According to Afenyo-Markin, the situation reflects what he considers a broader failure by the government to prioritise the needs of ordinary Ghanaian workers. He pointed to complaints from different professional groups, including teachers and nurses, arguing that the growing number of labour-related grievances should compel the government to take urgent action.

His criticism focused particularly on the implications of industrial action within the Judicial Service. The courts play a critical role in maintaining law and order, resolving disputes, protecting individual rights and ensuring that justice is accessible to citizens. Any prolonged disruption to their operations can therefore affect individuals, businesses and institutions that depend on the judicial system.

Afenyo-Markin also drew a comparison between President Mahama’s international advocacy for African reparations and the domestic labour challenges confronting the country. He questioned the apparent contradiction between seeking compensation and historical justice for Africa on the international stage while, in his view, failing to adequately address the financial concerns of workers at home.

“You are seeking reparations abroad, yet you can’t pay your own workers,” he argued, using the statement to challenge the President’s handling of labour relations and public-sector obligations.

The Minority Leader’s comments introduce a political dimension to the ongoing debate about workers’ welfare, government accountability and the consequences of unresolved labour disputes. While reparations for Africa concern historical injustices and the demand for recognition and compensation from those responsible, workers’ remuneration and conditions of service are domestic governance responsibilities. A government is expected to address both international interests and the legitimate concerns of citizens at home.

Afenyo-Markin consequently called on the Speaker of Parliament to summon the Attorney-General to brief the House on the situation. The proposed briefing, in his view, would provide Parliament with an opportunity to examine the circumstances surrounding the strike, understand the government’s position and seek answers about the steps being taken to resolve the dispute.

His appeal also raises questions about Parliament’s oversight responsibility, particularly when industrial action affects an essential public institution. Lawmakers have a responsibility to demand accountability from government agencies and ensure that disputes affecting public services receive appropriate attention.

Ultimately, the Minority Leader wants the government to treat workers’ welfare as a matter of urgency rather than allow disagreements to escalate into strikes that disrupt essential services. Whether the government’s response will bring an end to the concerns remains a key issue in the unfolding labour debate.

Source: Kojo Anane Sonkondo, Official Facebook Post, 7 November 2026.