By: Emmanuel Tetteh
The Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr Rasheed Draman, has described the anticipated change in Parliament’s Majority leadership as “shocking”, warning that frequent reshuffles involving senior parliamentary figures risk undermining the separation of powers and disrupting legislative business.
Dr Draman made the remarks during an interview on Top Story on Joy FM, following the nomination of Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga as Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs by President John Dramani Mahama.
Mr Ayariga’s nomination is expected to pave the way for Builsa North Member of Parliament James Agalga to assume the role of Majority Leader, pending the completion of the necessary parliamentary processes.
Reacting to the development, Dr Draman said the move reflects a longstanding constitutional and governance concern over the close relationship between the Executive and the Legislature.
“I think for me, it is shocking and that speaks to the issues that we have been talking about over the years, separation of power and the divorce of legislature from the executive.”
According to him, abrupt changes in parliamentary leadership have historically affected the work of Parliament, with some legislative initiatives losing momentum whenever key leaders are reassigned to the Executive.
“I have been following our Parliament for many, many years, and I know some legislative issues have suffered in the past when we have had this sudden kind of reshuffles.”
Dr Draman said leadership continuity is important to sustaining parliamentary reforms and ensuring that ongoing legislative work is not interrupted by changes arising from Cabinet appointments.
Despite expressing concern over the transition, he said he was hopeful that the work initiated by Mr Ayariga as Majority Leader would be sustained under his successor.
“That is how it came to me, but I hope what Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has started and has been championing over close to almost two years now will continue under the new leadership.”