The Former Majority Leader under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has detailed the events that unfolded prior to his substitution for Alexander Afenyo-Markin to take over from him.
The decision, which he says was taken by President Akufo-Addo, was opposed by Majority of the caucus Members of Parliament (MPs) at the time.
According to him, over 80 out of the 137 NPP representatives in Parliament at the time, had appended their signatures and asked him to reject the move when they hinted him of the decision the President had taken.
In February 2024, the National Council of the New Patriotic Party changed leadership of the Majority Caucus in Parliament with Alexander Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effutu, taking on the mantle of Majority Leader.
This meeting, involving members of the Majority Caucus and President Akufo-Addo, deliberated on recommendations from the National Executive Committee (NEC) concerning the leadership reshuffle.
According to the former Suame lawmaker, President Akufo-Addo had said the decision was meant to create “visibility for the party in the Central Region.”
“The President (Akufo-Addo) said they needed to enhance visibility in the Central Region and match up to Ato Forson and Jane Opoku-Agyemang,” he said on Accra-based Asempa FM Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
He, however, disclosed that, majority of the NPP MPs were against the changes and pledged their support for him.
“He (President Akufo-Addo) called some of the MPs and Ministers and planned that and when the issue was coming up, some of the MPs, over 80 of the 137 at the time, had appended their signatures that they’ve heard something like this was coming up and that I should assure them that I would hold and they will support me.
“Even before the President arrived at the said meeting to make the announcement, some of the Ministers had hinted to me what the President was coming to say and told me not to heed to it. They told me not to listen and that they were going to support me as Majority Leader,” he disclosed.
But the former Minister of Parliamentary Affairs revealed that he didn’t want to be the cause of confusion in the party and resigned right in front of the President when the announcement was made.
