North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa believes the rancour that has trailed the recent leadership changes in the Minority Caucus in Parliament has served as an unnecessary distraction.

He says while there are pressing national issues that are of great importance Ghanaians expect the parliamentarians to deal with, the rancour has served to shift their focus off gear.

“The Ghanaian people… expect us [the NDC] to be focused on those matters [domestic debt exchange], to offer leadership, to be their voice because that is why they sent us to Parliament.

“So, the point I am making is that this is a needless distraction,” he told Benjamin Akakpo, the host of JoyNews’ AM Show on Tuesday.

Mr Ablakwa’s comment follows a controversial reshuffle in the leadership of the Minority caucus which was contained in a letter dated Tuesday, January 23, addressed to the Speaker of Parliament.

In accordance with the changes, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has replaced Haruna Iddrissu as Minority Leader. 

James Klutse Avedzi lost his position as Deputy Minority Leader to Kofi Armah Buah, while Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak is to be succeeded by Governs Kwame Agbodza as Minority Chief Whip.

But the former Deputy Education Minister who has maintained a middle ground in the controversy surrounding the announced changes, says the shift in focus also could affect the party’s activities.

For that reason, he urged his NDC colleagues to cooperate to enable them resolve the disagreements promptly.

“So some of us have been urging colleagues that we have to quickly close ranks, deal with this matter expeditiously and move on to the national issues,” he said.

Additionally, Mr Ablakwa hinted at a caucus meeting that was to be organised by the Council of Elders of the NDC during the course of the week.

He expressed his hope that the meeting would enable members of the NDC to come to an accord.

“I think that in that meeting, some of us will be very clear on how going forward, we can do things better and learn lessons so that we do not spill over and create the kind of negative attention which we have attracted.”