Former Majority Leader for the NDC and Member of Parliament for the Zebilla Constituency, Cletus Apul Avoka, has underscored that his colleague, former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, should have exited Parliament more elegantly.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, according to 3News sources, tendered his resignation as the Majority Leader for the NPP Caucus in Parliament prior to a scheduled crunch meeting with President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, in the late hours of Wednesday, February 21.
However, the MP for Zebilla, Cletus Avoka, reacting to the development on Ghana Tonight on TV3, stated, “I am hugely disappointed,” adding that the exit of Mr. Kye-Mensah-Bonsu will be a great disservice not only to the NPP party but to Ghana as a whole.
“I do not think that given just about 10 months to the election and some acknowledgment for the exit, as he has decided not to contest the 2024 elections like myself, I do not think that this is the way he should exit, I think that he should exit in a more elegant and befitting manner,” said Mr. Avoka.
Mr. Avoka also described the Suame lawmaker as a brother and a close ally, having served together on the lands committee in the Third Parliament.
“When I was Majority Leader in the 2009 Parliament, he was the Minority Leader and we shared a lot of experiences together. We built consensus together, and we passed very critical laws together,” he stated.
First Deputy Speaker denies external attempt to remove Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
The first Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu (Joe Wise), denied media reports suggesting the removal of Kye-Mensah-Bonsu as the majority leader.
At a press conference in Parliament, Joe Wise vehemently denied the rumours stating that “the majority caucus is unaware” of such a decision by any external powers.
“We want to assure you that we have confidence in the leadership and the status quo shall remain, we are aware that upon the nomination of one of the Deputy Whips as a minister, a replacement will be made, that replacement will be made by the caucus when we have the opportunity and the time to consider the appropriate replacement,” he told journalists.
He stressed, “The leadership of the majority has not changed, we have not contemplated changing and we have no intention to effect any change in the leadership of the majority caucus.
“The Parliament of Ghana has adopted standing orders that place the selection and change or otherwise of leadership in the hands of the caucus and not anybody inside parliament.”