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Ghanaian Politics

Changing Minority’s leadership will cause more harm than good – Cletus Avoka

By : cd on 01 Apr 2021, 09:49     |     Source: citinewsroom

Cletus Avoka

Former Majority Leader, Cletus Avoka, has rejected suggestions a change in the leadership of the Minority side in Parliament is needed.

He is of the view that the Minority side will be worse off if the calls for an overhaul of the leadership are successful.

“As of now, I don’t support it. We will be worse off in Parliament because I don’t think they deserve to be changed. I think that some of the people calling for change are exercising that in a position of ignorance. They do not know the full fact and, therefore, want to make a decision without appreciating the circumstances under which we do some of the things in Parliament.”

“It is based on ignorance, and I do want us to fall prey to that call. I think that the leadership has done their best. We should be careful about how we go about these things. They should be allowed to do their work, so we see what happens further”, he said on Eyewitness News.

The Zebilla East Member of Parliament also said the recent happenings involving the Minority in the House are just being misrepresented.

Mr. Avoka admits that although the caucus may be having its own challenges, he sees claims that the Minority is in crisis as untrue.

“The situation is being exaggerated, we do not have a crisis at all. We may have challenges and not a crisis”, he said.

Ken Ofori-Atta’s approval as Minister for Finance has seen some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) chastising their representatives on the Appointments’ Committee.

Whilst the development has led Bolga Central MP, Isaac Adongo to break ranks with the caucus, North Tongu legislator, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has also resigned from the Appointments Committee of Parliament.

But Cletus Avoka says while Mr. Adongo is entitled to his position, Mr. Ablakwa should have handled his resignation much better by tendering his letter to the Minority Leader and not the Speaker.

“In the case of Hon. Ablakwa, it was not the Speaker who made him a committee member. It was his caucus leadership. So as far as his situation is concerned, I think that appropriately, he should have addressed the resignation to Haruna Iddrsiu who is the leader of the Minority”, he opined.

That’s even not all, the Minority has really come under heavy criticisms for doing very little to put the ruling government in proper check.

In the meantime, the NDC has already served notice that it will soon overhaul its leadership in Parliament.

I’m fully in charge of Minority in Parliament – Haruna Iddrisu
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu says he is fully in charge of his caucus in spite of recent seeming challenges within the Minority.

He told the media that the caucus will weather the storm.

“I am fully in-charge. I am the Minority Leader. I just engaged the party leadership and Council of Elders and there will be no further comments on someone resigning or not.”

“The party is focused to work towards recapturing power in 2024 and the parliamentary organ led by me currently will do what is needful to work in tandem with the party to hold the Nana Akufo-Addo government accountable and to lead the party to victory in 2024. Whatever storm it is, we will weather it”, he added.