Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, believes that the replacement of Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as Majority Leader was done in an embarrassing manner.
He says that Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, one of the longest-serving members of parliament, first heard of his removal in the news.
“What has he done to deserve such an embarrassment? at least publicly he hasn’t done anything so bad to deserve this embarrassment.
“It has been dealt with in an embarrassing manner. As the Majority Leader you hear in the news that you are going to be sacked,” he bemoaned on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday February 24.
For his part, the Executive Director of the Africa Center for Parliamentary Affairs, (ACEPA) Dr Rasheed Draman has insisted that Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was pushed out as Majority Leader.
He referred to a comment made by Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to the effect that he did not want further confusion in the Majority Caucus, hence his resignation, as the basis for concluding that he was forced out of his post.
“He said he didn’t want further confusion in his caucus, if he wasn’t pushed, I don’t think we would have heard this phrase in his speech. The only conclusion I can come to is the fact that he was pushed.
“Majority Leaders don’t resign, since I started following our parliament from the second parliament, I don’t know which majority leader has resigned, leaders get out through some negotiations in terms of the parties and the caucus in parliament,” he also said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, February 24.
The Suame lawmaker resigned on February 21 during a meeting between the Majority Caucus and President Akufo-Addo.
The NPP NEC held an emergency meeting in Accra on Friday February 23 to announce the changes made to the leadership of the Majority. At that meeting, the NEC decided to keep Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
He said on the floor of the House that his resignation as Majority Leader was voluntary.
He thanked the Speaker Alban Bagbin for the cooperation that has existed between them over the years.
“Thank you for the cooperation and collaboration that existed between you and I over the entire period that our paths crossed,” he said among other things.
Meanwhile, the Leadership of the NPP has said the former Majority Leader was not forced out of his position.
The MP for Efutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin was appointed as Majority Leader.
Other members of the newly constituted Majority Caucus are:
- Patricia Appiagyei (MP for Asokwa) – Deputy Majority Leader
- Frank Annor Dompreh (MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri) – Majority Whip
- Habib Iddrisu (MP for Tolon)- 1st Dep. Majority Whip
- Alex Tetteh Djonobuah (MP for Sefwi Akontombra) – 2nd Dep. Majority Whip