NDC Parl. Leadership Changes: They've Written Their Own "Political Obituary" Ahead of 2024 - Owusu Bempah Fires 'Anti-Dagomba' NDC

The NDC on Tuesday, January 24, made some changes to its leadership in Parliament with Ranking Member of the Finance Committee and Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam Constituency in the Central Region, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, replacing Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu as the Minority Leader.

Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle has also replaced 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 Whip.

According to Ernest Owusu Bempah a Deputy National Communications Officer of the NPP, the NDC Minority in parliament has written their own "political obituary" ahead of the 2024 elections for changing their parliamentary leadership.

"Mahama's vindictiveness has been clearly exhibited, on his revenge for Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mubarak . . . now there is no true northern person on the front bench in the leadership of the NDC in parliament, it is an attack on Dagomba people and the people of Gonjaland.

"It is clear that JM (John Mahama) is scared of Haruna Iddrisu and he will do anything to get rid of him using Fifi Kwetey to go after Haruna Iddrisu because he knows that he is going to lose the 2024 elections, and he has to set up Haruna Iddrisu because he will be the possible candidate to lead the NDC," he told Peacefmonline.com in an exclusive interview.

He said the Gonja/Dagomba rivalry has been exposed in the NDC, as the ethnocentrism within the NDC has been exploited.

He added that the Dagomba people has been exploited as an experienced man like Haruna Iddrisu who is a Dagomba has been used and dumped. 

"Such a political action is like taking out an experienced headmaster and replacing him with an amateur school boy," he added.

NDC Make Changes To Parliamentary Leadership

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has changed the leadership of its caucus in parliament.

A letter to the Speaker of Parliament to that effect signed by General Secretary Fifi Kwetey announced Dr Cassiel Ato Forson as the new Minority Leader.

He is to be assisted by Mr Emmanual Armah Kofi Buah as Deputy Minority Leader. This means Mr James Klutse Avedzi, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, is no longer the Deputy Minority Leader.

The statement named a new Minority Whip in the person of Mr Kwame Agbodza who replaces Muntaka Mubarak. The First Deputy Whip remains Mr Ibrahim Ahmed and the Second Deputy Whip remains Comfort Doyoe Ghansah.

The statement said the “new leadership would be charged to recommend consequential changes in the Ranking membership to the headquarters of the party for approval”.

Inusah Fuseini Surprised

The former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, has described as surprising the leadership changes by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament.

Mr Fuseini believes the unexpected changes are part of a grand strategy by the party ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr Fuseini said the new leadership will need the loyalty and support of all Members of Parliament to succeed.

“I received this with surprise, I had no inkling that it was coming. In the past, I said we needed to be cautious when people called for changes in the leadership. I know that the party is strategically positioned for elections in 2024, and I don’t know that as part of the strategy, this is part of the strategic considerations for 2024 and beyond.

“They will need the general support and cooperation of their members. I have no doubt that he [Ato Forson] has discharged himself well not only among the minority members but by the majority as well.”