NDC Member of Parliament for Asawase and other disgruntled MPs want the changes announced in the minority caucus leadership by the party suspended.
Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, who addressed a news conference says the leaders of the caucus were never consulted before the changes.
The party on Tuesday, January 24, informed the Speaker of Parliament about a change to its leadership in Parliament. It only explained that the decision is in the best interest of the party.
Per the changes, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson takes over from Haruna Iddrisu as the new Minority Leader. Ellembelle MP, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, will replace James Klutse Avedzi as Deputy Minority Leader.
Kwame Agbodza becomes the Minority Chief Whip replacing Muntaka Mubarak. He will be deputized by Banda MP, Ahmed Ibrahim and Ada legislator, Comfort Doyo Ghansah respectively.
But the decision has not gone down well with some Minority MPs who say the timing is wrong. They have also accused the party leadership of failing to consult widely on the decision.
But the General Secretary and party Chairman have defended the decision insisting that the right persons were consulted. The party says the election would be based on the economy, and the party must put forward its best foot.
Reports say out of the NDC’s 137 MPs, 60 of them have signed a petition in protest against the decision. Meanwhile, the other 77 MPs have also reportedly signed a counter petition endorsing the new leaders.
The party Chair, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, told Citi News the decision was tough for the party but necessary. According to him, the immediate past leaders are still be useful to the party.
But Muntaka, who also lost his role as the Minority Chief Whip, says “At no such meeting was this issue brought up for discussion. So it is clear that the letter may have been written by the General Secretary, but it’s a decision by a few people, and we believe that our party should sit up because Article 55 of the 1997 constitution enjoins us to follow democratic processes.”
“We were never consulted. Rumours that some elders were sent to talk to us, that is not true. We do not think it is acceptable for us as parliamentarians to watch on as leaders are chosen for us,” he said when the NDC MPs petitioned the party leadership over the recent changes in its front bench in the house.
Even before the disagreement is settled, Dr. Ato Forson has accepted the new role. He says he will unite the caucus before he assumes his position on February 7 when Parliament returns from break.
But addressing journalists on Thursday, Muntaka Mubarak asked the new leadership to suspend the changes until consultations are concluded.
Muntaka also claimed that discussions between the former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu and Dr. Ato Forson were not fruitful. His comment contradicts claims by Dr. Ato Forson that he had held fruitful discussions with Mr. Iddrisu.
“I can tell you that the meeting was not fruitful. He mentioned some measures that they had to take, but that was not done. I can tell you that he was irritated at the meeting,” Muntaka said during a press conference on Thursday.
Also addressing the press, MP for Zebilla East and former Majority Leader, Cletus Apul Avoka, said the only a decision arrived at after broad deliberations will be accepted.
“The basis for our prayer is that the party suspends the reshuffling as indicated by the General Secretary until such a time that a holistic meeting of stakeholders with consultations before a decision is taken.”
“It is on this backdrop that the national executives of the party a few weeks ago decided that all appointees in the party and parliament should remain in office after we conclude the parliamentary and presidential primaries. We are therefore surprised that the reshuffling is reaching the caucus in Parliament. We think that this is premature.”
Source – Tru News Report
