A public lecture under the theme “Centre-Left, Centre-Right: Formulating Policies That Serve a Growing Democracy” brought together political leaders and citizens to discuss ideological approaches to governance. Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the event as a meaningful step in strengthening democratic engagement, emphasizing that democracy grows through participation, informed debate, and accountability rather than existing only in constitutional texts.
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Majority Leader Hon. Mahama Ayariga highlighted the importance of understanding ideological traditions, explaining that “it’s in many ways the start of how we have governed ourselves, understanding the left and the right.” He further explained that to understand centrism, “we must first understand what sits between.”
Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who was the main speaker, called for pragmatic and flexible policymaking, cautioning against rigid ideological positions in the face of global and domestic challenges.
He stressed that as a growing democracy, the stakes are high, pointing to challenges including youth unemployment, climate vulnerability, digital transformation, ECOWAS integration, and global economic volatility. “No single ideology holds all the solutions,” he said, arguing that centrism encourages innovation by blending market incentives with social investment, private initiative with public oversight, and growth with equity.
