The Executive Director of the Africa Center for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr. Rasheed Draman, has indicated that the resignation of the Majority Leader of Parliament, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, will have an enormous impact on the affairs of Parliament and Ghana’s democracy.
He stated that Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, apart from being Ghana’s longest-serving Member of Parliament, is a diligent legislator. He maintained that, unlike other Members of Parliament, the Former Majority Leader is genuinely interested in the growth of Ghana’s democracy.
“Me and him we’ve traveled across so many countries and at one time we went to Kenya or Uganda and in those countries in their parliament they have some of the oversight committees chaired by the opposition…and he kept saying to me, this is something we need to do in our [Ghana’s] parliament. When they assumed power…I could see that he had an interest to push that agenda but of course he’s only one person”.
Dr. Rasheed Draman
Accordingly, Dr. Rasheed Draman suggested that Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu’s exit from his role should be further probed to determine whether or not he is being punished by the party (NPP) for siding with the Minority in Parliament on some issues.
He indicated the compass of a legislator suggests that the legislator has to deal with the constitution and the interest of the citizens first and foremost before the interest of the party and any personal interest. He emphasized that legislators should always be ‘vertical’ in conducting their business in parliament to ensure that they are serving the interests of the constitution and citizenry.
More so, the Executive Director of ACEPA argued that the Former Majority Leader’s stance on the use of the Ghana Card as the only accepted document for voter registration and the use of the indelible ink in Ghana’s election which aligned with the views of the opposition the NDC in parliament, may have pushed the NPP to take him out of his position.
He stated that Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu is a statesman who has the country’s interests at heart. He emphasized that Mr. Mensah-Bonus’s biggest legacy is his contribution to deepening Ghana’s democracy and the country’s parliamentary procedure.
“He is someone who is fiercely independent-minded just like the first Deputy Speaker. So for me, think the fierce independence of mind is one of his key legacies in terms of what he has contributed to the deepening of our democracy”.
Dr. Rasheed Draman
The New Standing Order in the NPP
In a drastic turn of events the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has made major changes to its composition in parliament as the Majority Caucus. The Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has tendered his resignation with immediate effect, which necessitated a reshuffle within the majority parliamentary leadership.
It was disclosed that Mr. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the current Deputy Majority Leader, will replace Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu as Majority leader while the Former Majority Leader will continue to serve the party as the Chairman of the Manifesto Committee of the party’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Furthermore, Frank Annoh Dompreh will be serving as the Deputy Majority Leader, and so will Habib Iddrisu as Majority Chief Whip alongside other appointments within the majority caucus.
The NPP stated that the major reshuffling in the majority caucus was indispensable as the party needed new faces and refreshing ideas on board.
However, before the reshuffle, the First Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament for the Bekwai Constituency, Mr. Joseph Osei Owusu had refuted rumors of the impending reshuffle stating that no outside force can make changes to the majority caucus without the consent of its members.
He indicated that the majority caucus is confident in its composition and leadership hence ‘the status quo shall remain’.
To conclude the NPP seems to be geared toward the 2024 General Elections in December with the recent changes made in the party to accommodate its campaign and election needs. Before the parliamentary reshuffling, the party conducted a cabinet reshuffling which saw the removal of some ministers who are now playing major roles in the NPP Campaign Committees.
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