Johnson Asiedu Nketia
SOME 72 NDC MPs, who are demanding the reversal of the decision to remove Haruna Iddrisu and his lieutenants from their leadership positions on the Minority front bench, have called on the party’s national executives to postpone their meeting with the caucus.
The ‘rebel’ MPs claim that the party’s Council of Elders has not yet finished discussing their petition and advised the leadership of the party on the next steps.
One of the MPs, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, who is also the NDC MP for Pru East, wrote in a letter addressed to the NDC General Secretary, “Our attention has been drawn to a letter with reference number NDC/HQ/36/117 on the above subject matter.”
He continued, “We note that the letter, which has been widely publicised and circulated on mainstream and social media, purports to invite the Members of the Minority Caucus to a meeting for the purpose of formally introducing the new parliamentary leadership of the Minority Caucus.”
“Respectfully, Sir, we wish to draw your attention to the fact that 72 Members of the Minority Caucus have petitioned the Council of Elders of the party regarding the process by which the leadership of the party took the decision to appoint the new leadership without consulting the entire Minority Caucus and also sidestepping the decision-making structures of the party.
“In light of the fact that the Council of Elders of the party are yet to conclude their deliberations on our petition and also to advise us and the party regarding the way forward, we humbly appeal to you to use your good offices to postpone the meeting pending the decision of the Council of Elders,” he indicated.
According to him, postponing the meeting to iron out their differences was in the NDC’s best interests, noting, “We count on your cooperation in this matter.”
Reshuffle
This follows the contentious reorganisation exercise carried out by the General Mosquito-led NDC national executives, whose decision has been termed as “unpopular.”
Haruna Iddrisu, who serves as the NDC’s MP for Tamale South, was unexpectedly replaced as the Minority Caucus leader with Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee.
The NDC announced in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament dated January 23, 2023, that the MP for Ajumako Enyan Esiam would be the new Minority Leader when the House reconvenes on February 7, 2023.
The letter, signed by the General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, said Ato Forson will be deputised by Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah of Ellembelle Constituency.
In keeping with the covert strategy, the NDC has replaced Asawase MP Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka as Minority Whip with Kwame Governs Agbodza of Adaklu Constituency.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, and Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada Constituency, retained their positions as First Deputy Whip and Second Deputy Whip, respectively.
“The new leadership would be charged to recommend consequential changes in the Ranking membership to Headquarters of the party for approval,” the NDC letter noted.
BY Ernest Kofi Adu