Majority caucus cannot appoint leaders without party involvement – Bagbin

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has clarified that the majority caucus in Parliament does not have the authority to independently appoint its leaders without the involvement of the political party overseeing the process.

Bagbin made this statement during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, February 21, clarifying the protocol for appointing caucus leaders within Parliament.

He underscored the crucial role of the political party in guiding and influencing the selection of leaders within the majority.

This clarification by the Speaker comes at a time when reports indicate that the ruling party is planning to change the leaders of its majority caucus in Parliament.

“I have heard and listened, and I know that the parties are having problems with this new definition of the new leaders, that is only where this confusion comes from. The old order refers to a party or parties, but this new one does not refer to a party but caucuses.

“The old order defines the majority leader to mean a member of parliament designated by the party or parties holding the majority of the seats as their recognized leader in the house. Now this new order says designate means appoint.

“The same standing orders talk about the majority caucus, and it says the majority caucus means the members of the party or parties that have the largest number of seats. I don’t see the difference, the caucus is the party wing. That is the wing of the party in parliament.

Joewise said no decision had been taken to change the current leadership of the majority.

There were reports in some media outlets that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmakers had changed their leadership in Parliament ahead of the December 7 general elections. The reports indicated that Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin is to replace Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.

But addressing the press in Parliament on Tuesday, February 20, the Bekwai lawmaker said, “We are here to inform you that the publications that are going around are not true, they are false.

“The majority caucus has not made any changes in its leadership, the majority caucus has not contemplated making any changes to its leadership, and we will tell the world and Ghana to ignore any such publication.

“We want to assure you that we have confidence in the leadership and that the status quo shall remain, We are aware that upon the nomination of one of the Deputy Whips as a minister, a replacement will be made, and that replacement will be made by the caucus when we have the opportunity  and the time to consider the appropriate replacement, This is all the information we want to share with you.”

He stressed, “The leadership of the majority has not changed, we have not contemplated changing, and we have no intention to effect any change in the leadership of the majority caucus.

“You cannot be talking about appointing or designating your leaders without the party leading the process. I don’t understand that, it’s the same definition here.”

The Speaker charged MPs who disagreed with him to proceed to the courts to challenge his opinion.

“It’s a matter that I will come up with a written reason for this House, but in the meantime, this is the position of the speaker. And I do so under the same standing orders, where there’s a doubt, it’s the speaker’s opinion that prevails.

“Anybody who disagrees with that has your right to proceed to the proper venue to contest my opinion. You come on the ticket of the party, and to appoint your leader, the party must lead the process. If you disagree with me, you proceed to the courts to get it changed. But as of now, this is binding on all of you. I don’t know how you can do that without the party or parties.”

The Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, earlier sought an interpretation from the Speaker of Parliament on the position of the new standing orders of the house on the selection of caucus leaders in the house.

Alhassan Suhiyini, in his request to the Speaker, revealed that President Akufo-Addo is set to engage the majority caucus tonight to address the crisis.

Pending the engagement, the Tamale North MP demanded the house’s position on such matters.

The Speaker’s remarks are expected to have implications for the ongoing processes and discussions related to leadership appointments within the majority caucus.