Afenyo-Markin welcomes #FixTheCountry campaign

Deputy Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called for a tolerant and accommodating posture towards the #FixTheCountry campaign, which highlights challenges faced by the country and mounts pressure on the Government to get them fixed.

“Sometimes when these agitations start, we meet them with emotions. But trust me if we listen carefully and take them as constructive criticisms, it helps. Sometimes when the pressures come, it helps… I am saying that with this social media agitation going on, we in leadership should be mindful of our own choice of words so we can carry the people along”, Afenyo-Markin noted on Asempa FM last Thursday.

He said instead of dismissing the conveners and describing them with invectives, it would be better to listen to them, engage them and dialogue with them which the issues they are protesting over are being addressed

Afenyo-Markin said it is the conduct of politicians that has fueled such a negative perception about them in the minds of the public, and makes it difficult for the public to understand the need to increase taxes as a means of generating revenue to run the country.

“Even where we have to agree on some national issues, we fail to do so and rather attack ourselves o create an impression the politician is corrupt. So when we want the populace to emphasize, they won’t because over the time, the impression has been that we are thieves spending the people’s money.

“So if we are corrupt and we are spending the people’s money, then why should we tax the people some more? I am saying that with this social media agitation going on, we in leadership should be mindful of our own choice of words so we can carry the people along”, he added.

Afenyo-Markin shared a personal experience of how such protests and agitations has been of help to the development of his constituency, Effutu:

“I have had calls to fix Effutu. I remember when calls came that some areas do not have street lights; some said they needed drainage systems and even electricity meters. I was surprised at some of them basic things that were lacking in some of my communities but I did not respond with emotions.

“I listened to them, I saw them as feedback and I responded swiftly to fix their requests and demands. The areas that needed lights were given lights. These agitations were on social media and it was tough.

“But I think that social media is a blessing to the politician depending on how the politician would see it. It is a place people speak their minds freely and it is easy to gauge their real thoughts. And it is when you know what the people really think that you can solve their problems”, Afenyo-Markin added.