The newly appointed Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, has taken over his predecessor, Haruna Iddrisu's seat in Parliament.

This happened on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, when the House resumed from recess.

In a video sighted by the Independent Ghana Mr Forson was seen standing at the front bench, exchanging pleasantries and having brief conversations with his colleagues in the House.

He subsequently addressed the House when the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, opened the floor for the "New Leadership of the Minority Caucus" to address the House if they had anything to say.

In his address, he commended his colleague MPs for giving him the opportunity to serve as the Minority Leader after 14 years in the House.

“We wish to convey our profound gratitude to our party, the great NDC MPs on the Minority side for this opportunity to serve at an even higher level to help shape the trajectory of Parliament,” he said.

He also commended his predecessor, Haruna Iddrisu, for the “sterling” leadership over the past years as Leader of the Minority.

“Again Mr Speaker, I’ll like to express on behalf of my colleagues [i.e newly appointed NDC Leaders] our profound appreciation and thanks to the immediate past Minority Leader and my Senior Brother Hon Haruna Iddrisu for his many years of distinguished public service and his sterling leadership of the Minority Caucus since 2017,” he added.

“His leadership is an honourable political and legislative career which has become a reference point for many who aspire to participate in Ghanaian politics and particularly in Public service. Again Mr Speaker, I'll endeavour to continue on the admirable path he has charted in the helm of the Minority Caucus and to live up to the very lofty standards that he has laid down in his leadership,” he added.

The Ejumako Enyan Essiam MP further pledged the NDC’s commitment to the works of the House under his Leadership and said his outfit will work to the benefit of Ghanaians.

“We will not be needlessly obstructive inasmuch as what is under consideration is in the interest of the people of Ghana,” he added.

The former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson was appointed in January this year together with two other persons to lead the Minority Caucus. He was to replace Haruna Iddrisu.

Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah was also named the new Deputy Minority Chief Whip, and Kwame Governs Agbodza also took over as Chief Whip.

However, Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, was retained as the First Deputy Minority Chief Whip, just as Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is still the Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip.

This was contained in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, from the National Democratic Congress and dated January 23, 2023. Following the reshuffle, chaos broke out in the party with some members who were not in support of the decision registering their displeasure through protests.

While Mr Iddrisu remained silent on the matter, former Minority Chief Whip, Munkata Mubarak protested the decision. He finally conceded after a meeting with former President John Dramani Mahama.

Source: The Independent Ghana