Jones Sarfo Anyamesema, a former NABCO coordinator has stated that Haruna Iddrisu’s removal from the leadership role in Parliament on the side of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a punishment. He claimed that his refusal to throw his support behind Johnson Asiedu Nketiah’s candidature in the party’s National election is what has landed him in trouble.
“You see, I don’t belong to the National Democratic Congress but any politician will like Haruna in their party. He knows his trade and has acquitted himself with his team. He has created history in Ghana by together with his group creating a hung parliament,
“How do you remove such a person and replace him with losers who we don’t know track record in the house? Haruna is just being punished for not openly supporting Asiedu Nketia period.”
Sarfo Anyamesema
The NDC has changed its leadership in Parliament replacing Haruna Iddrisu with Dr Cassiel Ato Forson as the Minority leader. The changes have been met with some opposition from grassroots members whereas some leading members believe it was unnecessary.
Sarfo Anyamesema reiterates that the deeds of Haruna Idrisu have caught up to him in the future; presently because he decided not to rally behind Asiedu Nketiah, during the party’s National Election. He thinks that Asiedu Nketiah, however will also not want to work with someone from whom he does not obtain support from.
What Parliament’s Standing Orders Say About Electing Leadership
The recent announcement of leadership changes among the Minority Caucus in Parliament has triggered backlash, less on the front of its legality and more on the front of propriety and due process. The Caucus is currently split with the outgone Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu’s bloc questioning the manner in which the change was affected whereas the Cassiel Ato Forson bloc insists that the National Executives had the locus to ring the changes.
There is consensus that the election of leaders for the caucus is not contained in the party’s constitution but that consultation and engagement has over the years become the convention.
Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams, who has publicly backed the National Executives for the latest changes has explained that even though the party is mute on the issue, Parliament’s Standing Orders settles the matter.
He explained that per the Standing Orders, the responsibility of appointing leadership of the Minority or Majority Caucus rested with the party on whose ticket the person was elected.
“If you look at Article 110 of the Constitution, it recognizes that Parliament itself will have Standing Orders… 110 (1) says subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may by Standing Orders regulate in its own procedure.
“The Standing Order interprets who (in this case) a Minority Leader is; Minority Leader means a Member of Parliament designated by the party and or parties and or members forming the Minority as their recognized leader.”
Kofi Adams
Kofi Adams, further explained that the Standing Order recognizes that it is the party or group of parties that are in an alliance who designate a leader amongst themselves. He claimed that when these parties failed or did not act, that is only when the members who form the Minority can now recognize someone.
“Minority Leader means a Member of Parliament designated by the Party having the largest numerical strength in Parliament other than the Party that has formed the Government, as the recognised Leader of all the Minority groups in the House.”
Kofi Adams
Meanwhile, new Minority Leader Ato Forson held a press conference to accept the role and called for unity. Later in the day, pro-Haruna MPs however held a press conference protesting the process involved in the new changes.
