Dr. Dominic Ayine, former Deputy Attorney General and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, has slammed party executives at the national level for the party's parliamentary leadership shake-up.
He claims that the National Democratic Congress leadership did not contact its members of Parliament before making the modifications.
The politician strongly opposes the trend, calling it not only highly concerning but also undemocratic.
"I am really frightened that the party at Adabraka can just write a letter to the Speaker and declare that these are the new leaders of the party, and we have to swallow it hook, line and sinker. It is very inappropriate, completely undemocratic, and does not comply to the norms governing the administration of our party system," he informed Umaru Sanda Amadu.
The NDC declared a substantial reshuffling of its leadership in Parliament in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament dated Monday, January 23, 2023.
It appointed Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam, as its new Minority Leader, succeeding Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah of Ellembelle replaces James Klutse Avedzi as Deputy Minority Leader, while Muntaka Mubarak of Asasawe is ousted as Minority Chief Whip to make way for Governs Kwame Agbodza.
The announcement has elicited varied reactions, with the party denying charges of a lack of consultation.
In Tamale South, for example, party members gathered at the constituency party office to demand that the decision be reversed.
"This is where the problem is as far as the issue is concerned - absolute lack of consultation. It's quite concerning. We are a democratic party; democracy is our middle name; thus, the decisions we make as a party should adhere to democratic values. True, there was no consultation, and there was no caucus meeting when we were informed that a new leadership for parliament was being suggested. "I find it deeply concerning," Dr. Ayine stated.