North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has described the controversy surrounding the recent reshuffle of the Minority leadership in Parliament as an unnecessary distraction, urging members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to unite and refocus on issues affecting Ghanaians.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the internal disagreements have diverted attention from pressing national matters, particularly the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), on which Ghanaians expect the Minority to provide leadership and hold the government accountable.
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“The Ghanaian people expect us to be focused on those matters, to offer leadership and to be their voice because that is why they sent us to Parliament,” he said in an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show.
He described the ongoing dispute as a “needless distraction” that risked affecting the party’s work in Parliament.
Mr Ablakwa’s comments follow sweeping changes to the Minority leadership announced in a letter dated January 23.
Under the reshuffle, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson replaced Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader, while Kofi Armah Buah succeeded James Klutse Avedzi as Deputy Minority Leader.
The changes also saw Governs Kwame Agbodza replace Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak as Minority Chief Whip.
Maintaining a conciliatory stance on the matter, Mr Ablakwa called on his colleagues to cooperate in resolving their differences quickly so the caucus could concentrate on national issues.
He said efforts were underway to restore unity within the caucus, revealing that the NDC Council of Elders was expected to convene a meeting to help resolve the impasse.
Mr Ablakwa expressed optimism that the meeting would provide an opportunity for members to reflect on the developments, draw lessons from the episode and strengthen internal cohesion.
He stressed the need for the party to avoid internal disputes that generate negative public attention and instead focus on serving the interests of the Ghanaian people.
