A former NDC Constituency Chairman of Ayawaso Central, Greater Accra, Mr. Ebenezer Arkutu says contrary to what is being churned out in the media, there is a groundswell of support for Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as the new Minority Leader in Parliament, especially among the grassroots.
The National Democratic Congress named Ato Forson as the new Minority Leader replacing Haruna Iddrisu. In a letter to the Speaker of Parliament on Monday, the party also stated the names of Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah and Kwame Agbodza as the new Deputy Minority Leader and Chief Whip respectively.
The announcement caused a sharp division among members of parliament with a pocket of party supporters protesting against the decision.
But there appears to be a sharp turn of event to the protestation following Dr. Ato Forson’s first public engagement after his appointment.
His call to the rank and file of the party to keep calm seems to have sunk well with a number of party functionaries at the grassroots as many are now beginning to buy into the change.
“I will appeal to rank and file of the party to keep calm,” he made the clarion call at a press conference on Thursday morning flanked by the incoming Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Agbodza, and other MPs.
“Members of Parliament are in good hands,” the soft spoken Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam constituency assured the party.
“We will work with them [rank and file] in due diligence, obviously we are not new in this house. I have been in this house for 14 years. I know the capabilities of all our colleagues…And I can assure you that together we shall succeed,” he said.
The former Constituency Chairman, Mr. Ebenezer Arkutu told Newstitbits that majority of NDC functionaries he has engaged points clearly to the fact that the party leadership made a good decision.
“He is actually receiving massive grassroots endorsement and support.
“His appointment is a statement of recognition of building generational leadership in the party and it’s a welcoming news to the NDC grassroots.”
He called on all who are yet to buy into the shake-up to give him and the party leadership the benefit of the doubt and rather forge ahead to annex power “from the failed NPP government as the good people of Ghana look up to the NDC to bring them relief”.
A Ward Chairman in the Northern Region, who doesn’t want to be named, also noted that the uproar which immediately followed when the news broke, mainly fueled by the Members of Parliament, also came to him and a number of his colleagues as a shock.
“All this negative noise by few individuals surrounding his progressive appointment is an attempt to build internal elitism in the NDC party, denying the rising youth the opportunity to serve when the time is due and appropriate,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, the Leadership of the NDC in the Central Region has congratulated Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on his appointment.
Mr. Gabriel Nii Kommey Adams, the Regional Secretary of the NDC, expressed optimism for the intellect and professionalism of Dr. Forson to steer the affairs of the party for victory in the 2024 election.
“We have absolute confidence in Dr Forson’s ability to perform excellently in his new role of leading the Minority in Parliament to keep the government in check by subjecting them to strict legislative scrutiny to protect the Ghanaian people from the abysmal and appalling governance they have so far offered,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
In a related development, the Ajumako Traditional Council has also issued a statement congratulating Dr. Ato Forson.
“We ask the spirits of our ancestors and the Gods of our land to guide and protect you. They should strengthen you to deliver your duties with diligence and humility to move your party to a desirable pedestal. May they also continue to bless you to continue with the good work you are doing for the constituency.”