We’re only asking for consultations – NDC MP who signed against new Minority leaders

• Posted on January 26, 2023January 26, 2023
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

One of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament who signed against the changes made to the leadership of the Minority, has said they are only calling for a consultation.

The MP, from the Bono Region, who spoke on condition of anonymity told TV3’s Parliamentary correspondent Komla Kluste they weren’t engaged on the decision by the leadership of the party.

“We are only asking for a consultation,” he said.

Another MP from the Northern Region who signed against the changes expressed shock that their petition has been leaked to the media.

He said “Im terribly disappointed on these needless leaks to the media and the unintended slants given to this well-intended action. Let us kindly stay focused and mature and steer this ship we are on board safely.”

As of mid-day on Wednesday, forty-Eight NDC Members of Parliament had signed a petition to the party executives to reverse the decision to change its leadership in the House.

The MPs believe that the decision is unpopular for which they want it reversed.

The MPs have called an emergency meeting in Parliament which the National Chairman Asiedu Nketia and the General Secretary Fifi Kwetey will be attending, Komla Klutse further reported.

Some of the NDC MPs including Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed expressed shock at the decision by the (NDC) to change the party’s leadership in Parliament.

The decision was made known on Tuesday, January 24 with the Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Constituency, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, replacing Tamale South legislator Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader. Ellembelle’s Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah also replaces James Klutse Avedzi as Deputy Minority Leader.

Speaking on TV3‘s News 360 on Tuesday, January 24 after news on the decision broke, the Tamale Central MP said there was no consultation whatsoever with the caucus before the release.

“Every single Member of Parliament is surprised,” he said, “And I can tell you that even those who have been proposed to take leadership, some of them are surprised that such a proposal is made without even consulting them.”

He condemned the mode of communication, saying as an MP he got wind of the decision on social media like many other NDC MPs.

“That is not how things are done,” he fumed.

“The NDC is a democratic party. We have touted ourselves as the pacesetters of this democracy. The NDC gave birth to the 1992 Constitution for which reason we have all collectively agreed to chart the path of democracy.”

He, therefore, indicated that NDC should be the last to disregard democratic tenets and by making such a decision without consulting the group – or caucus – it affects, to him, smacks of disrespect.

The former Nanton MP said his experience of having been in the Sixth Parliament and even the Eighth Parliament tells him that there is active consultation between the party’s leadership and the caucus prior to such decisions.

“How do you choose leaders for a group without consulting that group?” he wondered.

“Who told you that the group will be comfortable with the people you have chosen? Now if the group were not comfortable with the people you have chosen, then that will be the beginning of a failure of that particular leadership.”

Also, Member of Parliament for Agotime Ziope,  Charles Agbeve demanded explanations into the decision.

Mr Agbeve said the NDC lawmakers were surprised following the announcement of the changes because consultations were not done on this matter.

-3news