The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has opened up about the close relationship he shared with the late Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East, Naser Toure Mahama.

In a recent address on the floor of Parliament, the Minority Leader disclosed that he had a close relationship with the late Ayawaso East legislator, whom he described as his brother.

He said that the two of them had shared a close “bond” since they both entered Parliament in 2013, adding that their relationship even extended to their wives and children.

“He would come home, we'd eat together. I'd go to his house, we'd eat together. Hajia would cook and say, leader, come and eat. Mr Speaker, the only time that Honourable Naser would not pick my call, especially when I became a Majority Leader, was when I found myself in crisis and I needed him. After operations, he would pick my call and say, ‘Leader, this one forgive me’, and I would say, ‘I understand’,” Afenyo-Markin said.

The Effutu legislator further disclosed that he and the late Naser had planned to have a family get-together when their children returned from school.

But before the event, he received the shocking news of his demise.

“I knew my brother was a bit under the weather, but I wasn't expecting that the Lord Almighty would summon him so soon. Mr Speaker, before we rose, in fact, even on that day, he was with me, we spoke at length… the understanding was that we're going to meet and have a joint family meeting for Christmas because the kids were back from school.

“Then that unfortunate morning, the text message came from Hajia that ‘leader, your brother is gone’. How? Very sad,” he lamented.

Afenyo went on to say that because of the close relationship he shared with the late Ayawaso, he went to the cemetery for the first time in his adult life.

He indicated that he made sure he was present in the cemetery to take part in his friend’s burial rites to honour him.

“Mr Speaker, I've never been to a cemetery since I became an adult, but I said on this occasion, he's a true brother. And for me, there's nothing like friendship. You must honour it to the casket, even at the peril of your life; friendship, a true friend, is difficult to find.

“So Mr Speaker, I went to the Madina cemetery where my brother had been brought for final rites, and I made sure I touched him and helped lower him into his grave with honour. Let me thank the family members for allowing me the opportunity to be part of that last rite of honour. I felt satisfied because it was a true brother who shared with me the relevant code of life,” he added.

Watch scenes from late Ayawaso East MP’s home as his remains arrive from the hospital

Watch a video of Afenyo-Markin's remarks:

Afenyo Markin Will Be the President of Ghana very soon……….Whaaaaaaaaaaat? pic.twitter.com/6WO8NWsdSn

— Yawa (@DontdoYawa) February 6, 2026