The proposed reshuffle of the Majority leadership in Ghana's Parliament has been temporarily suspended in a strategic move. The decision allows President Nana Akuffo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership to conduct thorough consultations with the Majority Caucus, aligning the changes with the delicate legal framework of the new Standing Orders of Parliament.
Originally scheduled for unveiling on Monday, the reshuffle was a significant item on the agenda of the National Executive Committee and National Council meetings held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra. The potential changes included Alexander Afenyo-Markin succeeding Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as Majority Leader, with Frank Annoh Dompreh rumoured to take up the role of Deputy Majority Leader.
However, the recalibration removes the reshuffle from the Monday meeting's agenda. The current Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, reportedly agreed in principle to step down in a meeting with the President but emphasized the need for consultations with the parliamentary caucus before implementing any changes, considering the new Standing Orders.
A meeting is planned for Wednesday or Tuesday, where President Akuffo-Addo and the NPP leadership will discuss the proposed changes with the Majority caucus, ensuring their support and agreement. The legal requirement for caucus consensus in appointments stems from Order 6 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
The involvement of the caucus directly in the reshuffle process reflects a commitment to democratic principles within the party's decision-making processes. Traditionally, the National Council had the prerogative to select parliamentary leadership, but recent revisions to Standing Orders have shifted this authority to the Majority and Minority Caucuses in Parliament.
The legal framework includes provisions from the 1992 Constitution, the Standing Orders of Parliament, and the NPP Constitution, raising questions of potential constitutional inconsistency. Lawyers suggest a long-term solution would require amending Article 10 of the NPP Constitution to align with the new Standing Orders, ensuring legal conformity and party coherence.
