Enough of the ‘I DO YOU’, YOU DO ME’ politics ~ Osahen Afenyo-Markin calls out political leaders
Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Osahen Afenyo-Markin, has called on Ghana’s political leaders to abandon what he described as the destructive cycle of “I do you, you do me” politics. According to him, the country cannot advance if governance continues to be reduced to personal vendettas.
Speaking at the Young Commons Forum (YCF) Summit held at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) Central Campus on Friday, September 19, 2025, the lawmaker lamented the persistent culture where incoming governments focus their energies on persecuting opponents rather than delivering on the promises that matter to citizens.
“I’m sure you are tired of the ‘I do you, you do me’ vicious cycle of political persecution. Instead of political parties launching straight into the agenda of their manifesto to better the lives of the people, what politicians often think is that by bringing down their opponents, they will make themselves clean and popular. Unfortunately, that mindset has kept Ghana’s progress far behind,” he told the gathering of students
Afenyo-Markin stressed that politics should be a vehicle for development, not a tool for settling scores. He urged the next generation of leaders to break away from divisive practices and focus on building a Ghana where policy, innovation, and national interest take precedence over petty rivalries.
Part of the solution
The Effutu MP, who has been actively championing youth empowerment, challenged students to see themselves as part of the solution. “If we continue this same path, we will bequeath to our children a Ghana of regrets. But if we change course, guided by integrity and genuine commitment, then we will all live in a Ghana of promise,” he said.
According to him, Ghana urgently requires leaders who can navigate uncertainty, harness technology, bridge divides, and create sustainable solutions for national development.
He pointed to global examples where countries had invested in young people to achieve extraordinary transformation. South Korea, once considered poorer than Ghana, became one of the richest nations in the world by empowering its youthful population to drive a technological revolution. Singapore, a resource-poor country, rose within a few generations to become a global economic powerhouse by prioritizing education, innovation, and young talent.
On the African continent, he cited Ethiopia’s rapid progress in aviation and renewable energy and Kenya’s global leadership in mobile money and fintech through innovations like M-Pesa. “These stories show that when the creativity of the youth meets support and opportunity, nation-building indeed happens,” he added.
