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Claim: The National Vice Chairperson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sofo Azorka, has claimed that the Ghana Police Service did not invite Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin after he allegedly slapped a police officer during a confrontation.
Verdict: False. Contrary to Sofo Azorka’s claim, the police did, in fact, invite Alexander Afenyo-Markin to assist with investigations into the alleged incident.
Full Text
NDC Vice Chairperson Sofo Azorka has alleged that the Ghana Police Service failed to invite Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin after he allegedly slapped a police officer during a May 2025 protest in Accra.
The protest, organised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), demanded the reinstatement of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, whose suspension by President John Mahama had sparked backlash.
During the protest, Afenyo-Markin was accused of slapping a police officer. It is on the back of this that Azorka downplayed claims that he should be invited by the police when Afenyo Markin was not invited.
In a viral video, Azorka said: “Afenyo Markin slapped a security officer on duty as Majority Leader, but wasn’t invited. A civilian has slapped another civilian, and you’re inviting them. What is all this? It doesn’t make sense.” The video, shared by Facebook users including Ajavuuk Ayan and Newsfluence, has attracted over 30,000 views and hundreds of interactions.
Azorka’s claim, however, emerged amid heightened political tensions, including an earlier confrontation in Akwatia during a September 2 by-election, where one of his escorts allegedly slapped NPP Vice Chairperson Alhaji Osman Masawudu. Though Azorka was not the one who slapped him, calls mounted for the police to question him as the leader of the group.
Verification
DUBAWA’s checks show that the claim by the NDC’s National Vice Chairperson, Alhaji Sofo Azorka, is false. The Ghana Police Service, in a statement published on its official Facebook page on May 5, 2025, confirmed that Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin had been formally invited to assist with the investigations.
The statement directly addressed the incident, noting that Afenyo-Markin had been questioned as part of the investigative process. Multiple credible outlets, including Graphic Online, 3news, and Citinewsroom, also reported on the police invitation. These reports clearly contradict Azorka’s claim.
Conclusion
Sofo Azorka’s claim that the police failed to invite Alexander Afenyo-Markin after allegedly slapping a police officer is false. Official police communication and media reporting confirm that the Majority Leader was invited as part of the investigative process.
