I’m disappointed with Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s decision to resign – Joe Wise

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu popularly known as Joe Wise, has expressed disappointment following the resignation of Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as the Majority Leader of the Parliament.

He suggested that members of the majority caucus should hold on to their respective positions until the end of the current Parliament.

Addressing the press following the official resignation of Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Joe Wise said; “Kyei’s resignation got to me as a surprise.”

“I am personally disappointed that Kyei decided to stand down; he has been a fantastic leader who is extremely hardworking and I would have wished that he stayed on to the end,” he said.

“As to what got to him, I am sure we better let him explain,” Mr Osei-Owusu, who is also the MP for Bekwai, added.

Following the resignation of Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has requested the majority caucus to consult the leadership of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) as to who becomes the next leader in Parliament.

According to Bagbin, Parliament do not have the right to solely elect who represents any political party in Parliament since political parties play a crucial role in the selection of leaders within the majority especially.

“I have heard, listened and I know that the parties are having problems with this new definition of the new leaders, that is only where this confusion is coming from. The old order refers to party or parties, but this new one does not refer to a party but caucuses. The old order defines the majority leader as a member of parliament designated by the party or parties holding the majority of the seats as their recognized leader in the house. Now this new order says designate means appoints”.

He added; “The same standing orders talk about the majority caucus, and it says majority caucus means the members of the party or parties that have the largest number of seats. I don’t see the difference, the caucus is the party wing. That is the wing of the party in parliament. You cannot be talking about appointing or designating your leaders without the party leading the process. I don’t understand that, it’s the same definition here” he noted during a parliamentary proceeding on Wednesday, February 21, while clarifying the protocol for appointing caucus leaders in Parliament.