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The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is at a cross-roads over the protracted issue of Majority Leader in Parliament, as various interest groups within the party battle for their preferred candidates.
Reliable information gathered indicates that while the founder, Jerry John Rawlings, has not expressed any overt preference, other leading members of the party, Daily Guide has learnt, are rotting for Member of Parliament for Anlo, Clement Kofi Humado whilst President John Atta Mills is battling to settle the sacked Minister for the Interior, Cletus Apul Avoka with the enviable position.
Apart from these, some MPs recently indicated that MP for Tamale North, Abukari Sumani, was their preferred candidate, locking-horns with the two leading personalities in the NDC. The issue of Majority Leader cropped up after three front-benchers and leaders of the majority side in Parliament were nominated for ministerial portfolios by President Mills in his maiden cabinet reshuffle.
The three are Alban S.K. Bagbin, Majority Leader in Parliament; John Akologu Tia, Deputy Majority and Enoch Teye Mensah, Majority Chief Whip.
Subsequent pronouncements by Avoka that he had been proposed by President Mills to be chosen as Majority Leader were greeted with condemnation from MDC MPs who thought they had not been consulted on the matter, resulting in a crisis meeting at the seat of presidency, during which the president reportedly denied making such a proposal.
According to the Daily Guide, President Mills had confided in Avoka that every effort will be made to let him snatch the top post of Majority Leader, Unfortunately, the outgoing Minister and MP for Zebilla betrayed the confidence of the president by going public on the matter when asked about his removal from the Interior Ministry.
President Mills was said to have told Avoka at the Castle meeting, fully attended by Majority caucus in Parliament, NDC national chairman, Dr. Kwabena Adjei; General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, to “shut up” on the matter to allow the arty go through its consultative procedure in settling on who becomes the leader in Parliament.
Meanwhile, latest developments on the issue indicate that Avoka may grab the top post ahead of other colleagues, as a series of negotiations are underway to keep faith with the presidency by allowing President Mills’ choice.
A senior member of NDC leadership in Parliament told this paper that they would be speaking with their colleagues lawmakers to allow Avoka to be the Majority Leaders.
According to him, the MPs were peeved because of the way the matter was initially handled and that with sober reflections and series of negotiations within the party, he was convinced the legislators would allow Avoka to lead them as he was capable of doing so. He said the issue of Majority Leader has not been put to rest because they were not sure if the outgoing leader, Alban S.K. Bagbin who was in Singapore on official duties, was still interested in keeping his post or not.
“Now that Bagbin has returned from his official trip and announcement has been made in Parliament, confirming his new portfolio as incoming Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, a final decision will be taken soon on the matter,” the senior legislator confirmed to newsmen.
Other leadership positions up for grabs are, Deputy Majority Leader, Majority Chief Whip, First and Second Deputy Majority Chiefs, as the majority side is likely to restructure its frontline following the ministerial reshuffle that snatched the front-benchers. |
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| Source: Daily Guide/Ghana |
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