Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, Member of Parliament for Asawase in the Ashanti Region, has blasted the National Democratic Congress leadership over the changes in minority leadership in Parliament.
For the first time, the former Minority Chief Whip, who called the move a coup, contended that the 17 incumbent MPs who lost their ambition to represent the party in the 2024 elections might have been prevented if the previous leaders had remained been in power.
Muntaka believes that the loss of experience in the just concluded parliamentary elections will have an impact on the minority caucus in the next Parliament.
“The truth is that in 2020, because the NPP had bridged camp, there was a lot of vigour, a lot of energy, and naturally when you go for primaries, NPP should be interested in some constituencies creating confusion so that they can have the chance to split your votes and take the constituency, and there are examples like Akontombra and many others.”
“Now, in 2023, the NPP is battling to find its footing, to remain above water, and then you go and lose 17 MPs.” Whom do you blame? It would be quite unjust to blame the present [Minority] leadership because the primaries were announced before to the coup that occurred in Parliament, [which was] extremely unwise.”
“You can do any scientific research, and it would point to you that, the timing of that coup was absolutely wrong. It didn’t give the new leadership the opportunity to settle and strategise to save many more MPs.”
The Asawase MP also urged the newly-elected flagbearer of the NDC, John Mahama, to meet the MPs in smaller groups as part of plans to unite the party ahead of the 2024 elections.
He added that several MPs have become bitter towards the party arising from internal machinations.
