Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has shared his disappointing experience trying to reform the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) as Board Chair.
Despite his efforts to push for much-needed changes, he faced relentless harassment and ultimately became a victim.
Afenyo-Markin reflected on this experience yesterday during the vetting of the Deputy Energy Minister-Designate, using it as a cautionary tale.
He warned that entrenched political and bureaucratic resistance often blocks genuine reform efforts in key state institutions.
“I tried to reform Ghana Water, and I rather became the victim. It makes me sad as a politician because we don’t support each other for real reforms,” he lamented.
He also expressed frustration about the recurring pattern where bold reformers face resistance from vested interests, leading to stagnation and inefficiencies that persist across successive governments.
Afenyo-Markin’s comments come amid discussions on the possible privatization of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), which has faced significant opposition.
Drawing from his Ghana Water experience, he advised the Deputy Energy Minister-Designate, Gyan-Mensah, to be prepared for resistance but remain steadfast.
“If you are not assertive, you will spend your time there, come back, and find the same political football being played. The system will fight you, but you must be bold and push for real reforms,” he urged.