Former MP for Tamale Central Inusah Fuseini says the Minority in Parliament does not need a change in leadership despite the criticisms and backlash they are facing following the approval of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

Speaking on Newsfile, he stated that changing leaders will only deepen the cracks within the rank and file of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He added that although he does not believe the Minority Leaders in Parliament have betrayed the grassroots, they, however, failed to manage the expectations of their supporters in view of the composition of the 8th Parliament.

This, Mr Fuseini believes, is the crux of the problem.

“This is the first time ever in the history of the 4th Republic that we have had a Parliament evenly divided between the ruling party and the opposition and the fact that on the 7th day of January 2021, the minority did what has never been done in the history of this country, they elected a speaker, so the expectations were high.”

“The grassroots reasonably and legitimately were expected to have those expectations. Now when those expectations were not met, what we are seeing clearly is the fall out of that expectation. It is not any betrayal, it is not any crisis in leadership. It is the failure of the minority in parliament and the leadership of the party to manage the expectations of the grassroots in understanding the parliamentary procedure and practice that has gotten us to where we are.”

He explained that many of the criticisms are coming from within the party, thus, it is imperative for the leadership to not only sit and address the issue but also find solutions that could help them weather the storm, but changing its leadership is not one of them.

His comment comes after Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu and the leadership of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament came under pressure following the approval of President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees.

Although the party’s leadership after a series of caucus meetings restored peace, cracks within the NDC side in Parliament further deepened after North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa resigned amid the controversy.

Mr Ablakwa’s act further opened the leadership of Minority in Parliament to criticisms, with many calling for a change in their leadership in parliament and in the party's rank and file.

Former MP for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak in a post, described Ablakwa's resignation as a vote-of-no-confidence in the leadership of the Minority Leader.

But, Chief Whip, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, on PM Express disagreed with that assertion and assured all concerned that the party is in control and “not in crisis”.

“I can bet you we are firmly in control. Just that in a group of 137, they are not robots. You cannot read every single member’s mind at any point in time. And cannot expect everybody to agree to everything at every point in time. On very rare occasion do you get that.”

Haruna Iddrisu also hit back at critics who seek to undermine his authority at the Legislature and maintained that he is “fully in charge” of the NDC lawmakers in Parliament.

“As for undermining; I have survived it, I will survive it," he said at a press briefing on Wednesday. He, however, declined to comment on Mr Ablakwa's resignation.

Speaking on Okudeto Ablakwa’s resignation, Mr Inusah said that he does not approve of the North Tongu MP’s actions adding that the MPs in Parliament cannot always play to the gallery.

He stated that if the MP’s actions become a yardstick for every member who is unhappy with some decisions the party will stay in its crisis for a long time.

“A matter of this nature will require discipline and unity within the Minority and unity to be able to push through the agenda of the minority.”