Deputy General Secretary of the governing  National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has strongly criticised Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin over his confrontation with a police officer during the #SaveTheJudiciary demonstration held on Monday, May 5, 2025.

 Mr Gbande, who also serves as Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, accused the Effutu MP of physically assaulting a police officer without provocation and called on him and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to apologise for the incident.

“Afenyo-Markin, who is the leader of the Minority and in whom the NPP pins its hopes, slapped a police officer. The NPP and Afenyo-Markin should bow their heads in shame,” he stated.

He referenced past instances where MPs were blocked from protesting, suggesting that Monday’s demonstration was treated with more leniency.

Mr Gbande demanded an apology from the Minority Leader and the NPP while speaking in an interview on Accra-based Adom FM.

The controversy stems from a viral video circulating on social media, which shows a visibly agitated Afenyo-Markin appearing to lunge at a police officer behind a barricade during the protest.

In response, Mr Afenyo-Markin issued a statement clarifying that his actions were in reaction to what he described as unprovoked aggression by an officer identified as Constable Forson.

According to the MP, he was struck forcefully in the chest near the heart while approaching the barricade to submit a petition.

He said that senior police officers and some colleagues quickly intervened, calmed him down, and gave him water to help him regain composure before proceeding with the petition submission.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has invited Mr Afenyo-Markin as part of its investigations into the incident.

The MP has also filed a formal complaint and petitioned the Inspector General of Police, calling for disciplinary action against the officer involved