The Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for the Suame constituency in the Ashanti region, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has formally relinquished his role as the leader of the majority caucus in Parliament.

According to Myjoyonline's sources within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) hierarchy, he willingly offered to step down during a meeting of the NPP caucus in Parliament and the Executive, including President Akufo-Addo.

The Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Efutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin will assume the leadership position.

The development follows brief tensions between the caucus and the executive after it emerged that there were moves to reshuffle the leadership of the majority caucus.

The development drew protests from First Deputy Speaker, Joe Osei-Owusu and others, who had vowed to resist any changes in their ranks dictated by the party, stating that they were satisfied with the work of the current leadership led by Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.

Read also: No one outside Parliament can change Majority leadership – Osei-Owusu

It equally drew comments from the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, who insisted that the parties with representation in Parliament have a big say in appointing the leadership of their caucuses.

“If as a new House, you barely even know each other, and then you are asked to go and appoint your leader without your party, how are you going to do it?

Read also: Caucuses in Parliament cannot appoint leaders independent of parties – Bagbin

“A party that has given you the platform to come to this House. You come on the ticket of the party and to appoint your leader, the party must lead that process. I don’t know how you can do it without the party, “ he insisted.

Meanwhile, the National Council of the NPP is set to be briefed on the development on Friday when it meets.