The Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on its Honorable Members of Parliament to accept the decision of the party leadership to change its front bench in Parliament and work with the newly appointed leaders of the caucus.
Over the past several days, the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been holding series of meetings on a petition submitted by a group of NDC Members of Parliament on the changes to the party’s Parliamentary leadership announced earlier by the Party executives.
In a statement signed by Alhaji Mahama Iddrissu, Chairman, Council of Elders, the Council approached the engagements conscious of the need for an early resolution which will be in the best interest of the party and mindful of the imperatives of unity and cohesion at a time Ghanaians are looking up to the NDC to rescue the country from the dismal state of affairs which has been the hallmark of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government.
While recognizing that the party leadership was within its rights to make appointments or rotate the leadership of the NDC caucus in Parliament as has been the case since the inception of the Parliament of the 4th Republic, the Council is of the view that the processes need to be improved.
Accordingly, the Council noted that in the instant case, the approach, level of consultation, timing as well as the mode and manner of notifying the affected persons could have been better.
The statement further added that, notwithstanding, the Council implored our Honorable Members of Parliament to accept the decision of the party leadership and work with the newly appointed leadership of the caucus.
“This position was discussed with representatives of the petitioners who fully appreciated the stance of Council and offered to communicate same to the petitioners”, the statement said.
The Council of Elders thus acknowledges the leadership and sterling achievements of the outgoing leaders of the NDC caucus namely, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Hon. James Klutse Avedzi and Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak who have raised the profile of the NDC minority caucus and demonstrated that indeed it is the NDC who has the men and women capable of turning the fortunes of Ghanaians around.
The Council has therefore advised the leadership of the party to as a matter of urgency, accelerate work on the draft framework of rules for to guide decisions relating to matters such as the appointment of parliamentary leadership of the party.
“The Council will ensure that this framework is in place within the shortest possible time”, it stated.
Some members of the party were not in support of the change by the party’s leadership and took to the streets to get their voices heard especially in the Asawase constituency.
Party leaders feared the change in the leadership of the minority caucus could bring a division in the party and distort their preparations for the 2024 general elections.
The Council in the statement added that, it regrets the media altercations that took place in the aftermath of the leadership changes and the failure of the protagonists to resort to the internal grievance resolution mechanisms of the party to address their concerns.
The Council is of the hope that such political point-scoring which is not part of our political ethos will be avoided in future.
The Council of Elders hereby calls for togetherness and unity of purpose within the minority caucus and urges all members of the party to let peace prevail.
“Let us not do anything to hamper the clear opportunity the NDC has to emerge victorious in the 2024 elections”, it added.
The statement concluded that “It is our hope that the new Minority Caucus leadership will provide the leadership that will guarantee a resounding victory for the NDC in the 2024 general elections so that we can together rescue our beloved country from the hands of the failed Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government”.
