The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the party carefully planned the change in its leadership in Parliament. 

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said election 2024 will be fought on the economy and thus the party had the obligation to put its best foot forward. 

According to him, the party’s campaign message ahead of the polls will be heavy on the economy, hence the decision to reshuffle its leadership in Parliament.

Speaking on Tuesday, he said the skillsets of the new leadership will best propagate the message of the party in Parliament. 

“The 2024 election is going to be fought around the economy, so the debate is basically going to be about the economy. So if you are a serious party fighting to win an election. You must put your best foot forward to win the debate”.

“You can’t just tell people that the economy is in shambles when you have not been able to put your experts there to be able to communicate to Ghanaians how you will do things better. 

So this is the point where we need our finance and economic people around, and that is why we put them there,” Mr Asiedu Nketiah said.

The current leadership of the NDC in Parliament have been changed on all fronts.

According to the party, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has taken over from Haruna Iddrisu as the new Minority Leader. Ellembelle MP, Kofi Armah Boah will replace James Klutse Avedzi as Deputy Minority Leader.

Kwame Agbodza becomes the Chief Whip for the opposition side and will be deputised by Banda MP, Ahmed Ibrahim and Ada legislator, Comfort Doyo Ghansah respectively.

However, some NDC legislators have expressed their opposition to the decision describing the development as a “coup d’etat” and questioning the rationale behind the change.

Amongst them is Tamale Central MP, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed who said the timing of the decision by the party’s hierarchy is ‘wrong’.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen on the same day, the audibly displeased lawmaker explained that as far as he and other colleagues NDC MPs are concerned, the current crop of parliamentary leadership have been diligent in their duties.

He, therefore, questioned the rationale for the change and criticised the party’s leadership for failing to consult the entire Minority Caucus before effecting the changes.

“The timing is completely wrong. What is the basis of changing our parliamentary leadership?” Murtala Mohammed decried.