A key development from the ministerial reshuffle announced by Government Communications Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu on August 7, is news that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has decided to replace Mahama Ayariga with James Agalga as Majority Leader in Parliament.
Mr Ayariga has been nominated as Minister for Local Government, Religious Affairs and Chieftaincy. He replaces Ahmed Ibrahim Banda who heads to the Works, Housing and Water Resources Ministry.
Soon after the announcement, rumours became rife that the Builsa North MP has been tipped to lead the NDC side of the august House. Onuaonline’s Keminni Amanor reached out to him.
Here is a transcript of their conversation:
Keminni (Kem): Honorable, congratulations are in order. How did this news come to you?
James Agalga (JA): Thank you very much. Well, I was quite surprised, but again, I also know that having served in Parliament for quite some time, I mean, anything is possible.
So, I would like to thank His Excellency, the President and the leadership of my party, the Chairman and the General Secretary, who have reposed so much confidence in me to have accepted for me to be chosen to serve as a Majority leader. I am grateful and I can assure you that I will not let them down.
Kem: I want to understand your perspective on the role you are filling, but also what is your mindset going into this role?
JA: Well, leadership in the House, if you are made the Majority Leader, what it means is that you must develop the capacity to, first of all, move the Majority side along, as well as the Minority, because you are a leader of what? The House, a leader of government business.
That entails a lot of hard work. I mean, you would be required to learn to build consensus when the need arises. And at the same time, you must develop the capacity to champion government business, even in the face of opposition from a Minority that is very vociferous.
So, those are the perspectives I can share with you for now. It’s quite a Herculean task, but I can assure you that I have what it takes to deliver.
Kem: What should the Ghanaian be expecting from an Agalga leadership?
JA: Well, my party has a clear, if you like, blueprint for our country’s overall development. So, as majority leader and leader of government business, I would champion the cause of government in its quest to deliver on that blueprint and the mandates that the people of this country have given us.
At the same time, I would work to ensure that the interest of the people is treated as the most important objective that has to be pursued. Like I said before, the Minority is part and parcel of our democratic dispensation, our governance structure, and so we would have to take into account their views.
In doing so, we will not allow them to dictate the pace. I mean, we have a clear mandate from the people. I would ensure that we deliver on that mandate.
Kem: Speaking of the Minority, one of the things people have said since your announcement is to compare the Majority leadership to the Minority leadership, specifically the leader on the opposition side, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
They have talked about how vociferous, using your own words, he can be in Parliament. With you coming in now, what is your word to Afenyo-Markin?
JA: Well, first of all, Afenyo-Markin is a colleague, a lawyer, you know, we are members of the Bar. We both arrived in Parliament at the same time, and so he doesn’t enjoy seniority over me so far as our age in Parliament is concerned.
But of course, we would extend all the courtesies to the Minority leadership, but at the same time, the message I have for the Minority is that we would play according to the rules. I mean, the standard orders are very clear, and so we play according to what the standard orders allow us to do.
I am sure we would have a very interesting Parliament. I’m not sure, I’ve heard people say, oh, well, maybe I’m new to leadership and I could be bullied. If you’ve known me for some time, you would agree that I am not the type who can be bullied.
Far from that. But like I said, Afenyo-Markin is a nice gentleman, and so we would accord him all the courtesies, we would expect him to do likewise. And if we do that, I’m sure there will be peace and tranquility in the House.
Kem: Should he get ready for a showdown?
JA: No, no, no. I don’t think it would get to the point where we would have to have a showdown. But if we have to have a showdown, why not? But as Majority, our interest is to ensure that government business is not interrupted.
And my outgoing colleague, the honorable Ayariga, did very well when he was, and he’s still the Majority Leader anyway. He did very well, and soft-spoken, but very decisive and resolute. I think that I would walk very much in his footsteps and ensure that government business is not disrupted in any way.
Kem: Very well. To your announcement, one thing has been clear in how people describe you. They are either saying you’re a tough guy or you’re no pushover.
But where there is dissent is when the former Defense Minister talks about… And you alluded to that earlier, but I want you to go a little deeper on it. When he says that you have no experience in leadership position, and that he thought was a weakness for you going into this role. What do you think about that statement generally?
JA: Oh, the former Defense Minister is a very good friend of mine. When he was Minister for Defense, I happened to be the ranking member of the Defense and Interior Committee of Parliament. So, I actually oversighted him. And he knows too well that the position of ranking member is part of what? The leadership structure of Parliament.
He’s very much aware. So, for eight solid years, I was ranking member. That was a leadership role in Parliament. So, I am not new to leadership in Parliament. As we speak, I’m the Chairman of the Defense and Interior Committee. That is a leadership role in Parliament. It’s part of the extended leadership structure of Parliament. So, I am coming from the point where one cannot say that I am new to leadership.
Kem: So, I believe that you’re more than ready?
JA: For now, my colleague and good friend, Honorable Nitiwul is entitled to his views. But I can assure you that I am not new to leadership in Parliament. By the way, there are other equally senior members who have been part of leadership that I would have the opportunity to work closely with, including the Honorable Nitiwull, these are very formidable people.
And therefore, I mean, leadership is something that should be seen in the collective, you know. So, nothing to worry about.
Kem: Very well, Honorable. We leave it here. And once again, congratulations. Thank you. Hopefully, when you come to Accra, we can sit down and then have a one-on-one interview.
Thank you so much, Honorable. Have a nice time.
JA: All right. You too.
