‘Coup’ against Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu foiled

An alleged planned reshuffle in the Majority caucus of Parliament has been foiled. The changes would have seen veteran Suame legislator, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu replaced as Majority Leader.

But, a group of Majority Members of Parliament (MPs) held a news conference yesterday, February 20, 2024 to set the records straight that, per the new Standing Orders of Parliament, only the members of the caucus were clothed with the law to effect changes to their leadership.

Moments after the MPs spoke, the Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Haruna Mohammed came in to give an assurance that no decision has been taken by the leadership of the party to change the leaders of the Majority caucus.

NEC meeting
On Monday, February 19, 2024, the National Executive Committee (NEC), at its meeting put the consideration of a change in parliamentary majority leadership on the agenda. However, sources said that item was not discussed.

Reports
Reports in the last few days indicated that changes in the Majority leadership was imminent, following President Akufo-Addo’s major reshuffle of his government. As the rumours spread, no word came from the NEC of the party to deny or confirm the reports, thus fueling the allegation.

According to the reports, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was to be succeeded by his deputy , Alexander Afenyo-Markin. Frank Annoh Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip, was rumoured to be going for the Deputy Majority Leader position. That was to open the position of Majority Chief Whip for Habib Iddrisu, who presently holds the office of the First Deputy Chief Whip.

The intended reshuffle also was to see the likely appointment of either Patricia Appiagyei or Freda Prempeh as the new First Deputy Majority Chief Whip, following Lydia Seyram Alhassan’s recent nomination as Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation by President Akufo-Addo.

In addition, the role of Second Deputy Chief Whip was expected to be filled by Alex Tetteh Djornobuah, the MP for Sefwi-Akontombra.

MPs dismiss reports
At yesterday’s news conference, the Majority MPs dismissed the reports of impending changes in their leadership. The First Deputy Speaker and MP for Bekwai, Joseph Osei Owusu who addressed the media, emphasized the stability and unity among caucus members.

“The publications that are going around are false, the majority caucus has not made any changes to its leadership, and the majority caucus has not contemplated making any changes to its leadership and we want to tell you to ignore any such publication. “We are confident in the leadership that we have and the status quo shall remain,” he stated .

The Bekwai MP added that they are unaware of external attempts to make any changes to its leadership adding that only the caucus has the right and power to make changes to its leadership.