Associate professor in the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, is calling for an overhaul of the leadership of the Minority in Parliament.
It follows recent resignation of North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, from the appointments committee of Parliament in the aftermath of the approval of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
“Something must be done to the leadership of the minority group in parliament. The current NDC leadership in parliament isn’t the same leadership that fought for the principles of secret balloting to be respected in the election of Speaker of Parliament. This is not the leadership that snatched the Speakership of Parliament from the NPP,” Gyampo posted on Facebook.
He added: “They must either be brought back on track or there should be a total overhaul. If this won’t be done by the party’s leadership outside parliament, the grassroots must do so. The survival of the party and its fortunes in any future election, is contingent on a timeous response to this selfishness being displayed in Parliament, that disregards the fact that some even had to die to produce the kind of Hung Parliament we now have.”
Prof Gyampo believes overhauling the leadership of the Minority in Parliament is crucial in reviving the current parliament to play its role effectively.
“Reinvigorating the current Hung parliament to be able to play its role as countervailing authority to the powers of the executive, is also dependent on how responsive the party takes the call for an overhaul of its leadership in parliament,” he said.
He further commended Ablakwa and Bolga Central MP, Isaac Adongo, for their stance in the wake of the approval of Ofori-Atta.
“The two MPs who have so far demonstrated that they have conviction, must be saluted. It doesn’t lie in the mouth of those who have benefitted from the politics of convenience of the minority group, to critique the action of those who have taken exception to the conduct of their leaders in Parliament.”
