The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampam, Sam Nartey George has added his voice to the growing division among NDC legislators over the shake-up in the party’s leadership in Parliament.
He lays blame on the doors of national officers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the mixed reactions that have greeted the replacements saying they failed to engage the party’s legislators.
“The crux of the matter we are dealing with is the fact that, there were no consultations. We hear Adabraka say that, consultations were done, but we are the individuals who are being affected by this decision. Were we engaged? Absolutely not. The issue is whether Parliament as the institution to be affected was engaged. That is where we have to begin thinking hard and seriously about it”, he said on Eyewitness News.
Current and past NDC MPs are divided over the development over lack of consultation. Party supporters are equally livid demanding an immediate reversal of the decision.
But the party insists the announcement is in line with its strategy for election 2024 and will not be reversed.
For Sam George, it is only appropriate for the party hierarchy to think about the disagreements and consider broad discussions as soon as possible to avert further confusion.
“Our national executives must accept and admit that they may think they have done consultation, but they needed to engage the parliamentary caucus. That is why I think we need to resolve this matter within the next 24 to 48 hours. There must be a sit down between the MPs and Adabraka to listen to what the parliamentarians have to say. What we want is legitimacy and legitimacy comes from consensus.”
The NDC has replaced Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu with Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Other changes include Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle who has been brought in to replace Ketu North MP, James Klutse Avedzi as the Deputy Minority Leader while Kwame Governs Agbodza has also replaced Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak as the Minority Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim and Comfort Doyoe-Ghansah were, however, maintained as First and Second deputy Whips respectively.
But the reshuffling in the lawmaking house is brewing tensions.
Some 44 MPs signed a petition to reject the decision of the party. The 44 members believe the decision by the party is unfair and unpopular.
However, some 77 MPs have also reportedly signed a different petition to endorse the decision of the party.
According to reports, the 77 MPs believe that Dr. Ato Forson and Armah-Kofi Buah are politically astute and have the quality to lead the party in Parliament.
“This reaction we are seeing would have been properly managed. The NDC MPs caucus was to have been called int a meeting for the national officers to say, this is the decision we have taken based on consultation with the various stakeholders. There will be questions and disagreements but in the end, we would reach a consensus.”
“It is the shock factor of hearing it in the media and asking if I am part of the system. So this issue has to be resolved. We have the Council of Elders and the structures of the party, and they need to find a way of bringing Adabraka and the parliamentary caucus together”, Sam George stressed.
