Dr. Richard Amoako Baah, a political analyst, has accused President Akufo-Addo of forcing Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to step down from his role as the leader of the Majority Caucus in Parliament.
Expressing his concerns during an interview with Accra-based Radio Gold, Dr. Amoako Baah asserted that the sole authority capable of removing the former Majority Leader is the president, leaving no room to disavow any involvement in Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s resignation.
The abrupt resignation occurred after a pivotal meeting between Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and some leadership figures of the NPP at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.Dr. Amoako Baah further questioned the legal foundation for the president’s actions.
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“If he has been forced to resign, then the president forced him to resign from the position of Minister of Parliamentary Affairs because that is the only position he can be forced to resign from. You cannot force him to resign as Majority Leader.
“So if anybody forced him to resign, it must be the president. Nobody else has that power except the president and so he cannot deny that he forced him to resign.
“I am not blaming the president, he is the one who did it because he is the one with that power. If you have the power and you exercise it, it is not blame and the person has no choice because he has appointment powers and removal powers and he has exercised one.”
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was appointed chairman of the NPP’s manifesto committee after his resignation and Alexander Afenyo-Markin was subsequently announced as Majority Leader.
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Meanwhile, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has conveyed a sense of loss following Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s departure from his position as Majority Leader.
He noted the surprise within Parliament regarding the unexpected nature of the Suame MP’s resignation from leadership.
However, Dr Ato Forson stressed the importance of honouring Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s decision and refraining from criticism.
In his address to Parliament following the former Majority Leader’s formal resignation announcement, Dr Ato Forson commended Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s extensive knowledge and experience in Parliamentary practices and procedures, recognizing that his expertise is unmatched by few.
“Having been Deputy Majority Whip, Majority Chief Whip, Deputy Majority Leader and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Minority Leader, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, he rose full cycle through all the ranks of both Minority and Majority front bench of this august House.”
“Many, including my good self, will attest to his outstanding leadership, brilliance rigour and attention to detail. His uniquely humane and personable nature have always commanded the respect and admiration of his colleagues, he said.
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Addressing Members of Parliament on Friday, February 23, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu called on members of the Majority Caucus to extend their support to his successor, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
“On Wednesday, February 21, at a meeting with the caucus and the President, I formally announced my decision to resign as the Majority Leader in order to still the storm and facilitate the peace and unity for the party at this time,” he said.
The National Council of the New Patriotic Party on Friday confirmed the new leadership of the majority caucus in Parliament as Alexander Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effutu takes on the mantle of Majority Leader starting today, Friday, February 23.
This significant change in the Majority Front Bench’s leadership follows the recent interpretation of parliamentary procedures and aligns with the Speaker’s recent ruling on the selection process.
The leadership changes were confirmed at a meeting led by the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong.
This meeting, involving members of the Majority Caucus, deliberated on recommendations from the National Executive Committee (NEC) concerning the leadership reshuffle.
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