Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the Mahama administration of using state institutions to target political opponents, calling on the government to release individuals he described as "political prisoners."

The Effutu Member of Parliament made the remarks during the parliamentary debate on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review presented by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on Thursday, July 23.

According to Afenyo-Markin, recent prosecutions involving opposition figures and government critics point to what he believes is an attempt to intimidate dissenting voices and weaken political opposition.

He cited the case of Camilla Alhassan, describing her as a mother of three who had been unjustly imprisoned following her conviction and one-year jail sentence.

The Minority Leader also referred to the conviction of the New Patriotic Party's Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, who was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in connection with an illegal mining case.

Afenyo-Markin argued that the two cases reflected what he described as growing intolerance for opposing views and warned against what he said were efforts to suppress political criticism.

Addressing the Finance Minister during the debate, he appealed to the government to facilitate the release of those he considers victims of politically motivated prosecutions.

He maintained that neither the prosecution of opposition figures nor any legal action against Members of Parliament would prevent the Minority from carrying out its oversight responsibilities.

The Minority Leader further reminded the government that political power is temporary, urging the administration to exercise restraint in dealing with its opponents.

He pledged that the Minority would continue to scrutinise government policies, question public expenditure and demand accountability, insisting that attempts to silence the opposition would not deter the caucus from holding the government to account.